Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has claimed that two current Manchester United stars under Erik ten Hag have been exposed and are ‘not big’ players in his eyes.
Erik ten Hag has endured a tough second season in charge at Old Trafford amid Manchester United’s lacklustre Premier League campaign.
The under-fire United boss has seen his first-team squad plagued with injuries and the Red Devils have struggled with consistency in their form and results.
United face an uphill battle to secure any kind of European football for next season after managing only one Premier League win in their last five league fixtures.
Erik ten Hag’s men languish in eighth place in the Premier League table with only three league matches remaining, with a top-four finish out of the picture.
United will be without Champions League football for the following campaign, but they could still secure Europa League or Europa Conference League football.
Despite the difficulties at Old Trafford this season, Ten Hag could still end his season on a high note if United can beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final this month.
Souness takes aim at two Man Utd stars
Manchester United will face Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton in the Premier League before their FA Cup showdown with Manchester City on 25th May at Wembley.
Speaking on the Three Up Front podcast, Graeme Souness pulled no punches towards former Real Madrid duo Casemiro and Raphael Varane.
Casemiro has been playing as a makeshift centre-back for Erik ten Hag in recent week amid the injury crisis that has hit United’s defensive line-up.
However, the 32-year-old Brazilian midfielder has been met with heavy criticism after his influence has significantly waned in his second season at Old Trafford.
Casemiro, who was signed by United boss Ten Hag in 2022, has appeared a shadow of his former Real Madrid self amid an injury-hit season at the Premier League club.
United defender Raphael Varane, much like former Madrid teammate Casemiro, has had to contend with injuries during the current campaign.
“I have never thought Casemiro was someone you paid money to watch play football,” Souness said.
“Yes, you can point at all the medals he has won, but he was a bit-part player in a very special team.
“I never saw him as being the difference when he came to United – he’s just okay.
“’He’s not a big player. It’s the same with Raphael Varane, if you don’t have something to offer, Real Madrid will sell you.
“They sold them both to Man United, paying a premium on top of a premium because it’s the Premier League and because of the nature of the club.”
Souness on Man Utd star Casemiro
Souness has been a staunch critic of Casemiro since United agreed a hefty £70m deal to sign him from Los Blancos.
The former Sky Sports pundit famously called Brazil captain Casemiro a “steady Eddie,” with Souness criticising the former Madrid star this season as well.
Souness has now claimed that Casemiro has been “found out” after he left the La Liga club and signed for United.
“It’s a football decision which I feel they got wrong again. I think Casemiro has been found out,” he continued.
“If you’re a big player and you’ve got the opportunity to go to Man United, you’re going to take it because you’ll be thinking, ‘I can make them better.’”