CASE'S LAST DANCE CONTINUES
Mark Froggatt: When Casemiro’s ankle folded under the pressure of Cristian Romero’s wayward boot, I started to panic. It looked like a serious injury, and, in the moment, repercussions were flying through my mind. We’re losing our midfield general in a crucial game. We’re losing him for the season. This will be his last United appearance. He’ll even miss the World Cup finals after working so hard to become Brazil captain again. Such bad luck.
Then, after a couple of anxious minutes, our in-form 33-year-old slowly rose to his feet, dusted himself down and got back to business in the heat of battle, without fuss, going on to play a key role in a fourth consecutive Premier League win for Michael Carrick’s Reds. It summed up his quiet drive and determination to keep moving forward.
This was Case’s 100th Premier League appearance and his 149th for United. When it ended in the 87th minute, replaced by Manuel Ugarte, Old Trafford rose to applaud a man who is relishing his last dance as a Red. His mid-season departure announcement has created an opportunity for appreciation on both sides. He loves our fans and we love him. There’s a collective drive to achieve something special in the time we have left.