A bullish Casemiro says Manchester United will approach their derby clash with Manchester City ‘like a final’, giving ‘everything on the pitch’ to ensure they come away from the Etihad with victory.
Pep Guardiola’s champions – last year’s treble winners – sit 15 points better off than United in second place and head into Sunday afternoon’s clash as the overwhelming favourites after a run of 18 unbeaten games.
United had looked to have turned a corner as they went on a five-match winning streak in all competitions last month, but Erik ten Hag’s men suffered another setback last time out in the top flight as they fell to a painful 2-1 defeat at home to Fulham.
But the Red Devils will take some encouragement from their dramatic midweek FA Cup fifth round win away to Nottingham Forest, where Casemiro headed home a last-gasp winner to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the competition – their only realistic shot at silverware this season.
Speaking to United’s official website, an upbeat Casemiro stressed that he and the squad were going into the ‘beautiful’ derby with a positive mindset given they are days that are supposed to be ‘enjoyed’.
‘They’re the games where you notice the fans want the game. The players want the game. The club want the game,’ he said.
‘I think they’re games and days that are meant to be enjoyed. That’s how I feel. They’re beautiful games.’
The veteran Brazil midfielder is confident United can deal with the pressure of such an ‘important game’ and views the clash as a golden opportunity to boost morale within the squad.
‘Well, you get used to it, you know? In the end, when you play so many matches. In the end, despite being a derby and an important game for us, we know that at the end of the day every game is important,’ he added.
‘We know that in order to win, if we win that match it’ll boost the team morale and the club morale, especially considering how important it would be for the end of the season.
‘But we have to face every match like a final, as if they were all important matches. So I think this is another important match for us.’
The former Real Madrid star went on: ‘They’re moments that always excite players,’ he added.
‘They’re moments that help a player’s self-esteem. They’re like that. It’s high-level players who keep you at your best. So they’re games where you feel that euphoria both on and off the pitch, they make players feel alive.
‘Those are the beautiful things about football that help players’ self-esteem.’
Casemiro urged United’s away support to ‘believe’ in the team in what he expects to be a ‘very intense’ and ‘very difficult’ encounter.
‘The thing I like the most about playing here, going back to the previous question, is our fans on the road,’ he continued.
‘The way they support us, how they help us, how they’re with us. It’s the most beautiful thing.
‘I’d ask the people who travel to the match to support us and believe in us, because we know it’s going to a very intense, very difficult game.
‘But I want the fans to believe in us, because we’re going to give everything on the pitch.
‘Victory is very important, not only for the fans but for us as well, especially considering the squad’s morale ahead of the remainder of the season.’
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