John Obi Mikel blasts Ruben Amorim on pairing Christian Eriksen and Casemiro

By Monsurah Olatunji

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has called on Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim to rethink his midfield pairing of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro, following their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at Old Trafford.

This loss left United in 14th place, closer to the relegation zone than the top of the Premier League standings as they ended the year on a low note.

In the latest episode of his ObiOne Podcast, Mikel expressed his frustration at seeing the two veteran midfielders deployed together, pointing out that age has impacted their pace and agility.

“There’s no way, and I hope this never happens again, that you see Casemiro and Eriksen play in the midfield for Manchester United,” Mikel stated.

“Who is going to run for who? If you’re a 30-something-year-old player, you need a young player beside you who can compensate because you don’t have the legs to run anymore.”

He emphasized that a younger, more energetic player is crucial to complement veterans like Casemiro and Eriksen, who may struggle with the demands of the Premier League.

“You need that young player, fresh legs, energetic, who can cover those grounds for you. You have those two; who is going to run for who? So, for me, it is a massive mistake; it’s awful to watch,” Mikel added.

While acknowledging the immense talent of both players, Mikel pointed out that even the best, like Casemiro, are susceptible to the physical toll of aging.

“Listen, brilliant players, I have talked about it, we have said it, Casemiro is a fantastic player, he’s played for Real Madrid, he’s won so much, he’s been an absolutely fantastic servant of football. He’s done everything.”

“But when your legs are gone, your legs are gone, there’s nothing else you can do. If your legs are gone, especially in the Premier League, you will get found out,” Mikel concluded.