World Cup winner labels Man Utd star ‘the brain’; explains which Ten Hag signing was a masterstroke

A World Cup winner and former Man Utd midfielder has picked out “the brain” in Erik ten Hag’s squad, and also explained what makes a masterstroke summer signing the player he is.

With domestic football’s return less than two weeks away and England out of the World Cup, attention is quickly turning back to matters back home.

A huge second half of the season awaits at Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag embroiled in a fierce scrap for Champions League qualification.

Newcastle have wasted little time turning the ‘big six’ into a ‘big seven’. What’s more, Liverpool went into the World Cup break just one place behind Man Utd and their first half of the season could hardly have gone worse.

UCL qualification is the minimum requirement and Ten Hag will be ever more reliant on the senior members of his squad, especially now Cristiano Ronaldo has left.

Removing Ronaldo from the equation could yet free up Bruno Fernandes to re-produce the types of incredible numbers he put up in his first 18 months at the club. It’s long been theorised Fernandes thrives when Ronaldo isn’t in the same eleven.

Now, speaking to Man Utd’s official club media, former Red Devil and World Cup winner, Bastian Schweinsteiger, has labelled Fernandes “the brain” of the operation.

Schweinsteiger lifted the World Cup with Germany in 2014 and signed for United a year later in 2015.

His move to Old Trafford came a little too late in his career for English audiences to see his best, though he’s widely renowned as one of the best and most intelligent midfielders of his generation nonetheless.

“I call him ‘the brain’,” said Schweinsteiger of Fernandes.

Explaining why, the 38-year-old added: “Like he literally moves so smart on the field and do you know what, you actually like kind of underestimate [his work rate].

“Of course, he’s making his assists, or he is scoring the goals and makes great passes but Bruno Fernandes, he is working very hard.

“His numbers are high [for the distance] he runs on the field, and I really like watching him because whatever he does, it makes sense.”

Ten Hag signing “one of the best” midfielders in the world

While Fernandes is at the heart of everything United do well in the opposition’s half, Casemiro is having an equal impact closer to his own goal.

Eyebrows were raised when United forked out an initial £60m to sign the Brazilian. Casemiro’s talent and effectiveness as a midfield destroyer wasn’t in doubt, but at age 30, there was a feeling United were repeating old transfer mistakes.

However, Casemiro has been a revelation thus far and along with Christian Eriksen in the double pivot, is laying a fantastic foundation for those around them to thrive.

Casemiro was also an integral figure in Brazil’s tilt in Qatar. While the Selecao ultimately fell to Croatia on penalties, Casemiro was near-flawless throughout the tournament.

Schweinsteiger suggested Ten Hag has pulled off a transfer masterstroke when declaring Casemiro “one of the best” in the world in midfield. He also detailed what traits make him the player he is.

“Casemiro is one of the best, definitely in that position, at the moment,” added Schweinsteiger.

“He sniffs the danger quite well. He is a good passer. He scored an amazing goal against Switzerland as well and he is a very important piece for the Brazilian national team.

“He is one of the leaders there, and you can see that, and you can feel that and, yeah, I hope he can bring the sharpness back on the United field as well.”

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