Lots of minutes with little to no rest due to no replacement and the team are pressing higher mean he is asked to press more intense than before. All combined to him rarely being fit for all 90 mins and wouldn’t be in the position to defend counter as he and Ten Hag want
Honestly, he’s also always been a motivation based player. I think at Madrid that was sort of papered over because there always is so much pressure, and he’s always been so questioned, and real we’re always in a position to compete. But if you go to his early career, people thought he was lazy at São Paulo, and at Porto he played a lot better in the CL (and I’d say even over his real career he was always better in big games). I imagine that it’s not just physical but also mental in this case.
I think at Madrid that was sort of papered over because there always is so much pressure,
I could not disagree more. There is massive pressure when the stakes are high yes - But there is also a reason why Real has never won a treble or isn’t as consistent in the league, priority number one is the CL.
Not disagreeing with that. It is just that in a club like United with its current situation and the level of competition every other game is a big game - Slip up and goodbye to CL qualification as actually ended up being the case. That and the fact that there were no quality backups like Ceballos always meant that the move was high risk. Case should have picked a move like Inter, would have been perfect
I think every game is high pressure… ish. You’re realistically not really competing for titles (because the PL has become basically Man City’s competition, and they are generally just outright favourites to win it). I think that’s the big difference tbh. One is much more concrete, than a placement in CL, and the financial rewards that come with it.
Lots of minutes with little to no rest due to no replacement and the team are pressing higher mean he is asked to press more intense than before. All combined to him rarely being fit for all 90 mins and wouldn’t be in the position to defend counter as he and Ten Hag want
Honestly, he’s also always been a motivation based player. I think at Madrid that was sort of papered over because there always is so much pressure, and he’s always been so questioned, and real we’re always in a position to compete. But if you go to his early career, people thought he was lazy at São Paulo, and at Porto he played a lot better in the CL (and I’d say even over his real career he was always better in big games). I imagine that it’s not just physical but also mental in this case.
I could not disagree more. There is massive pressure when the stakes are high yes - But there is also a reason why Real has never won a treble or isn’t as consistent in the league, priority number one is the CL.
I mean, he always performed in the CL though. League and copa were always a bit more disappointing, because they are lower stakes.
Not disagreeing with that. It is just that in a club like United with its current situation and the level of competition every other game is a big game - Slip up and goodbye to CL qualification as actually ended up being the case. That and the fact that there were no quality backups like Ceballos always meant that the move was high risk. Case should have picked a move like Inter, would have been perfect
I think every game is high pressure… ish. You’re realistically not really competing for titles (because the PL has become basically Man City’s competition, and they are generally just outright favourites to win it). I think that’s the big difference tbh. One is much more concrete, than a placement in CL, and the financial rewards that come with it.