Gary Neville thinks appealing Casemiro’s red card against Crystal Palace on Saturday would be ‘too much of a risk’ from Manchester United, who will need the midfielder back for their crucial Carabao Cup final versus Newcastle later this month.
The Brazilian was given his marching orders after placing both his hands around the neck of Palace midfielder Will Hughes and will subsequently miss United’s next three domestic games, including a quickfire double-header against Leeds and Leicester’s trip to Old Trafford.
Should the Red Devils launch an appeal, they would risk the possibility of an extended ban, casting doubt over his availability in the final.
Despite Casemiro’s first ever sending-off, Manchester United edged out a vital 2-1 win against the Eagles to climb within three points of rivals Manchester City – and eight points off league leaders Arsenal.
Neville is confident Erik ten Hag’s side can ‘get through’ the Leeds and Leicester fixtures without the Brazilian international – but admitted his absence in the engine room will make things ‘difficult’ for the Dutchman.
Casemiro was shown his first ever red card after placing both hands around Will Hughes’ neck
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United still beat Crystal Palace 2-1 despite Casemiro’s sending-off
‘He’ll never get off. It’s too big of a risk,’ he said during his podcast with Sky Sports on Sunday. ‘They could risk another game and they could increase it so they won’t appeal it. I think they’ll feel they can get through the three games.
‘It’ll be difficult for Ten Hag because he’s been the most important player for Manchester United, he’s held the ball well in midfield and Eriksen is obviously out as well.’
Neville initially felt the red card was harsh – suggesting Casemiro showed little malice towards Hughes – but admitted the defensive midfielder took a chance by planting both hands on the Palace star.
‘I thought it was harsh but I thought Erik ten Hag summed it up perfectly when he said he “took a risk”,’ he added.
‘If you put your hands one someone’s throat, even if it’s just one of them you can kind of protect yourself, but I think once you put two you’ve got an issue. And he’s basically taken a risk.
‘He’s fantastic at winning the ball back and he’s always on the front foot, but he takes chances.
‘(Casemiro is the sort of player that) makes a thousand fouls and never gets booked. Fabinho and Rodri are the same. Fernandinho. They’re brilliant at it.
‘They’re outstanding at making sure a foul is not a yellow card – but he’s just been done a couple of times now.
Gary Neville thinks appealing the red card would be too much of a risk from Manchester United
The Brazilian will miss the next three games but returns in time for United’s Carabao Cup final
‘Even at the end of that scuffle, he ends up having a play with Will Hughes, but when you freeze it, it doesn’t look great. It looks like he’s strangling him.’
Although United clawed back ground in the title race, Neville was keen to downplay their chances against Arsenal and Manchester City.
The former Red Devils captain is delighted to see his old club looking ‘happy’ again, unlike the defending champions, who suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Tottenham on Sunday.
Neville continued: ‘I don’t think Manchester United will get there, I think they’ll fall short. I think the Eriksen injury for one, but they’re not quite there are they?
‘They’re doing really, really well, they’re competing and they look happy again, that’s a really big thing.
‘Manchester United need to look happy on the pitch if you’re a Manchester United fan. From that point of view, they’re doing well. It’s not ridiculous to suggest they could win but I don’t think they’ll win it. But I’d be worried if I was Manchester City.
‘United look a happy bunch but City look moody at this moment in time. I think Spurs did a few weeks ago but they’ve come out of it.
‘I think City need to come out of it as well. They need one of those meetings where you bring everyone together.’
Neville described Manchester City as ‘moody’ after their 1-0 defeat by Tottenham on Sunday.
source: dailymail.co.uk
