Varane tips United to 'find balance' without Casemiro after red card
Raphael Varane tips Man United to ‘find balance’ without Casemiro after his red card against Southampton earned him a four-match ban… but admits the team ‘can’t be happy’ with Anthony Taylor’s decision to upgrade his yellow card
- Man United were dealt a blow after Casemiro was given another red card
- The midfielder was initially given a yellow before VAR upgraded it to red
- Raphael Varane says the team will cope but are unhappy with the sending off
Raphael Varane insists Manchester United will find a way to plug the gap left by Casemiro’s four-match ban, but admits they are unhappy about referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to send off the Brazilian in the goalless draw with Southampton.
Taylor initially gave Casemiro a yellow card for his challenge on Carlos Alcaraz just after the hour mark at Old Trafford on Sunday, but upgraded it to a red after being advised by VAR official Andre Marriner to review the decision on the pitch-side monitor.
Casemiro will now be banned for Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham and the Premier League games against Newcastle, Brentford and Everton, meaning he will have missed United’s last 16 domestic games through suspension.
Varane played alongside Casemiro at Real Madrid where the midfielder only picked up two red cards in nine years – and they were both the result of two bookings.
‘I think about decisions by the referee and I keep my opinions to myself,’ said Varane. ‘We can’t be happy with the decision he takes, but that’s part of football.
Man United were dealt a huge blow after Casemiro was sent off again against Southampton
His team-mate Raphael Varane believes Erik ten Hag’s men will find a way to cope without him
‘He’s a player who’s very important for us. He brings balance to the team and to the squad. But we have a great squad and we have to find another balance without him. We have good players in every position on the pitch and we’re ready for the next games.
‘He was very disappointed because nobody wants to get off the pitch before the end. But, as I say, it’s part of football. It was obviously very disappointing but we can focus on the next games and that’s it.’
Varane was unhappy with a draw against the Premier League’s bottom club, but pleased with the way United’s 10 men pulled together for an hour to earn a point one week after suffering a disastrous 7-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield.
‘I think it’s frustrating,’ added the Frenchman. ‘But I was happy with the mentality, the fighting spirit. The team fought as a group and that’s the positive point.
‘We knew we needed to run a little bit more, to be a bit more defensive but we reacted as a team, as a group and with a good mentality. We fight for each other. The crowd as well, we feel the support. I think we can be proud of the fighting spirit. Obviously disappointed by the result but great teamwork.
‘I think if you take away the game against Liverpool, we were in a good moment and good results so we have to keep the confidence. I think the winning mentality is here in this group.’
But he said the team were not happy with Anthony Taylor’s decision to upgrade the Brazilian’s yellow card to red after a VAR review
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