‘If I’m being honest’: Wright slams pundit for ‘disrespectful’ analysis on player who ‘needs help’

Ian Wright believes Jamie Carragher crossed a line with his post-match analysis on Casemiro last night.

It’s no secret that the Brazilian had a howler of a performance and was woeful in the build-up to each of Crystal Palace’s four daggers across the 90 minutes.

Still, it must be remembered that Casemiro is operating out of his comfort zone after being made to deputise for the ever-growing list of sidelined players. The backline, in particular, has fallen victim far too frequently to the debilitating injury crisis.

When giving his verdict on the five-time Champions League winner’s showing, Carragher couldn’t get over just how much he’d been dominated by Palace’s relentless frontline.

In fact, Casemiro registered an unwanted record for the 2023/2024 campaign as he was dribbled past eight times in total – the most of any player in a single match this term.

Carragher said to the panel: “Casemiro should know tonight as an experienced player that he should only have another three games left at the top level – the next two [Premier] league games and the [FA] cup final – then he should be thinking I need to go to the MLS or Saudi.

“I’m deadly serious – his agent, the team of people around him… they need to tell him: this has to stop.”

Wright dismisses Casemiro criticism

Wright completely disagrees with such sentiment, though, and has had his say on the matter during today’s episode of Wrighty’s House.

“I wanted to mention Casemiro quickly because he’s been one of the main talking points after that game,” the former Arsenal forward began. “We saw Jamie Carragher mention him on the show, about how great he’s been over the years and that maybe he should stop now and go to the MLS or Saudi, which I thought was really quite disrespectful if I’m being honest. 

“When you look at Casemiro and what United have always needed, he was really good when he came, and I don’t think he thought for one minute that he would be in such a disorganised situation at this point in his career. 

“To go to Manchester United and play at that stadium and that stage of his career would have been so hard for him to turn down. He would never have seen United in the position they are in now and didn’t think he’d be getting so exposed by the team. 

“Whatever people say about him, I don’t think he is done. I don’t think he is. You can see we’re talking about a world-class player who’s played in a world-class team. A club of United’s stature should have players who can help him. 

“People say he’s 32, so he must be gone, no. I was still okay at that age. You’re not over. It’s all about the players and the structure around you. He needs more help, and he’s not got it.”