Michael Carrick has confirmed that Casemiro's departure from Manchester United in the summer is final, following the Brazilian's goal in a 2-1 victory over Brentford. The interim manager stated that the decision is 'pretty clear' from both sides, ending any speculation of a reversal.
Casemiro's Impact in the Match
Casemiro opened the scoring with a header in the 11th minute, his ninth Premier League goal for United. Only Benjamin Sesko, who scored just before half-time to seal the win, has more goals for the club this season. The midfielder has been impressive throughout the campaign, but previously announced he will leave in June after four years at Old Trafford.
Carrick's Statement
“It’s pretty clear – from both sides it’s pretty clear the decision,” Carrick said. “It’s pretty clear, too, how much it means to him [playing for United] and probably the situation and the clarity of the decision has helped everything to be understandable for the supporters as well. Credit to him because he’s given absolutely everything and had some big moments for us, so all round it’s quite a nice direction for it to be taken.”
Champions League Qualification
Mathias Jensen’s late 20-yard finish was a mere consolation for Brentford. United, currently third in the table, need just two points to secure Champions League qualification. However, Carrick insists the team should not stop there. “This week’s been very effective in terms of the league,” he said. “Champions League is one thing, but it’s not something we should be celebrating either. We want to be finishing high up the league and trying to get more points so our season doesn’t get to a close when that happens. It’s one thing certainly we need to try and achieve and we’ve put ourselves in a good position at this moment, but there’s still more work to be done.”
Brentford Manager's Reaction
Brentford manager Keith Andrews expressed disappointment with the result but was pleased with his team's performance. “I was really happy with how we performed overall,” Andrews said. “United started better than us, dangerous from corner kicks and got the lead. We calmed down after that, got to grips with the game, the occasion, the opposition better. The bravery of the players was really impressive.”
