Manchester United fans believe they spotted the moment Casemiro volunteered to take the first penalty in the FA Cup semi-final penalty shoot-out win over Brighton.
The Brazilian slid home United’s first spot-kick in cool fashion to calm the team’s nerves with subsequent takers Diogo Dalot, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Marcel Sabitzer, Wout Weghorst and Victor Lindelof all finding the net.
Solly March’s missed penalty allowed Lindelof to fire the Reds into their first FA Cup final since 2018. Casemiro played the full 120 minutes of a gruelling contest with the Seagulls, who ended the game with 61 per cent possession.
READ MORE: Erik ten Hag praises three players in FA Cup semi-final win
The linchpin made seven tackles in the match to help a makeshift back line keep a clean sheet. At the end of extra time, a camera showed Erik ten Hag talking to his players in a huddle ahead of the penalty shoot-out.
At one point he and assistant Steve McClaren looked around at the whole squad before Casemiro raised his hand, with some fans surmising that he had just volunteered to take the first spot kick.
Those who agreed with the theory sang the praises of the midfielder on Twitter.
@SlickRule: Elite mentality
@theatreofDre3ams: What a player, elite character
@RuckleyRuck: Leader. Which is what we've missed most in these last ten years.
@RealBuharii: Nerves of steel
@United_Bazaar: Trophy hunter mentality
@devasanation: Love him
@David_Hicks: Leadership comes in many forms
Later in the shoot-out, Casemiro was seen gesturing to David de Gea to be more animated on his line ahead of Brighton’s penalties in a bid to put them off. The Spaniard failed to save a spot kick but made a number of crucial stops during the 120 minutes of play.
United set up a Manchester derby FA Cup final with Manchester City for the first time in the competition’s history next month.
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