Casemiro is not the problem at Manchester United and Erik ten Hag needs to learn lesson from Pep Guardiola

Danny Murphy has come to the defence of Casemiro by insisting the midfielder’s teammates need to help him out defensively.

The 31-year-old has come under fire from his displays in Manchester United’s opening two games against Wolves and Tottenham, where he has been exposed.

GettyCasemiro has faced criticism over his performances this season[/caption]

GettyThough Murphy believes his teammates left him exposed against Wolves and Tottenham[/caption]

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Murphy believes that is due to the Brazilian, who was one of the best midfielders in England last campaign, failing to get the help required from the United squad.

Jamie Carragher recently claimed Casemiro is United’s weak link, before insisting he isn’t good value for money.

And on the White and Jordan show on Wednesday, a clip of Graeme Souness’s view of the player was broadcast, where he labelled him as a ‘Steady Eddie’.

It led Murphy to defend the ex-Real Madrid star in the talkSPORT studio, where he said: “I don’t think he is a ‘Steady Eddie’, I think he is a hell of a lot better than that.”

He continued: “It’s all about the dynamic of a team and the way someone fits in and the way people perceive you to be.

“He’s a holding midfielder, if he was playing in a midfield that had a better defensive, tactical set-up, he wouldn’t look as isolated as he has done in the first two games.

“He’s a wonderful player, you don’t win the [number of] Champions Leagues [five] he’s won playing in Madrid for the years he had, if you’re a ‘Steady Eddie’ – you don’t stay in that team.

“He’s better than a ‘Steady Eddie’ and he’s very good on the ball, he can see a pass and he can score a goal.

GettyCasemiro was one of the Premier League’s top midfielders last season[/caption]

“But the reason Souness calls him a ‘Steady Eddie’ is because Souness was one of the greatest midfielders of his time, who had every attribute a midfielder could want.”

Murphy added: “He’s been one of the best holding midfield players of the last decade.

“I think he will get back to last season’s form, I wouldn’t worry about that, but I think he needs some legs around him to help him.

“And I think we will see especially as there’s been an injury now to [Mason] Mount for the couple of games, I think you’ll see [Scott] McTominay probably come in and play alongside him to give him some legs and give him some help.

“But I don’t worry about him for the next year or two – he’s a super player.”

Mutphy then told United boss Erik ten Hag that he needs to copy Pep Guardiola’s approach and have his atacking-minded players helping out defensively if he wishes for his team to stop being overrun.

He remarked: “Man City have wonderfully gifted footballers, who work harder than everybody else. I always go back to David Silva.

“David Silva’s levels and his numbers when Pep first came in went through the roof in distance covered, high intensity, winning the ball back, this is David Silva, one of the best players we’ve ever seen in our league.

GettyMurphy has told Ten Hag he must get his attacking-minded players to help out defensively[/caption]

“Bernardo Silva, technically gifted, genius, creative footballer, central midfield in a team that won the league playing alongside Rodri for the majority of last season.

“And people like [Ilkay] Gundogan, [Kevin] De Bruyne, working off the ball, [Jack] Grealish is a great example of someone who has gone up levels.

“You don’t have to be a defensive minded player to be a good defensive player, Grealish never has right-backs now running off the back of him – because Pep won’t have it!”