The 5 unsung heroes of Real Madrid’s dream 2021/22 season

3. Casemiro

Real Madrid is truly lucky to have legendary midfielders like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro, who have won four Champions League titles together, as a trio. Fans absolutely love the midfielders, who have proved from time to time that they are one of the greatest midfield trios of all time.

But usually, Casemiro’s work has been underappreciated throughout this season, and this season he has been criticised a lot, for his deficiencies on the ball. Surprisingly, one of his partners Toni Kroos has also been criticised during the season, but it wasn’t as much as the criticism directed towards Casemiro, which was so exaggerated that a section of fans wanted Aurelien Tchouameni to replace the Brazilian next season.

Casemiro didn’t have the best season, but he had a good season, and there is a need for fans to focus on what he has done, instead of focusing more on what he hasn’t been able to do. Casemiro has the third-most successful tackles and is the midfielder with the third-most interceptions in the Champions League this season. And for all his troubles with the ball at his feet, he has completed the fifth-most number of long balls in LaLiga.

It is easy to ignore his contribution to the team, but the team definitely knows how important his presence is, This is something that was clearly visible from the difference between Real’s defensive performance with and without the Brazilian, in the second and the first leg respectively against Manchester City. Even in the final against Liverpool, he had a mammoth game, with four tackles and three interceptions.

Instead of counting his misplaced passes, it is better if people instead recognise what he brings and celebrate the unsung hero.