When Casemiro gradually became part of Old Trafford's memory, Bruno Fernandes also managed to write his name into Manchester United's history.
It was an emotional afternoon for the hero loved by fans, and also the record-breaking day for the "Red Devils" captain. While Casemiro received a special tribute, Fernandes continued to affirm his leadership role with another impressive milestone in his career.
From another perspective, this match also reflects the transition process in MU's midfield, where Michael Carrick is preparing to step into the role of official head coach.
After the match, Casemiro was honored right on the field. The Brazilian midfielder bowed to all four Old Trafford stands amidst non-stop applause from fans. The hugs of his teammates made his moment leaving the field more special, even though the last mark before being substituted was a yellow card.
However, Casemiro's journey of revival in the past year has shown the class and bravery of one of the best defensive midfielders of his generation. He is one of the important catalysts for MU's recent rise.
Meanwhile, Bruno Fernandes continued to prove his value with a memorable record. After being voted Man United's Player of the Season, the Portuguese midfielder equaled the record of 20 assists in a Premier League season - a record previously set by Thierry Henry for Arsenal in the 2002-2003 season and Kevin De Bruyne recreated with Man City 17 years later.
Despite many assists coming from set pieces, Fernandes still made a difference in a team that does not possess superior strength like Henry or De Bruyne's teams.
Everyone knows I needed another assist and they tried to score from my passes" - Fernandes shared after the match.
Bruno Fernandes' 20th assist finally came with a high-quality pass, after many situations where teammates missed regrettable opportunities.
Carrick also did not hide his satisfaction with his student: "The way we did it was really a great moment for everyone. This is an excellent achievement".
Although the match is no longer very meaningful in terms of ranking as MU is almost certain to finish in the top 3, the performance of the Old Trafford home team still brings many emotions. Carrick's team scored 3 goals, twice hitting the wooden frame and continued to maintain impressive form at home. This is their fourth 3-2 victory in the short time Carrick has been in charge.
The English coach not only helps the "Red Devils" regain efficiency but also restores the spirit of dedication. They currently have won 8 of their last 9 home matches under Carrick - a number far exceeding the achievements of the entire previous season.
Luke Shaw opened the score very early with a beautiful volley, ending a long period without scoring. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest also left many marks. Elliot Anderson continued to show the reason he was highly appreciated with two quality assists, while Morgan Gibbs-White impressed with a beautiful goal on his return from injury.
Coach Vitor Pereira described this as a crazy match, especially after the controversial situation leading to MU's third goal. Matheus Cunha scored after the ball bounced out from Bryan Mbeumo's shot. Although referee Michael Salisbury had to review it for quite a long time because of Mbeumo's hand touch, the final goal was still recognized because it was determined to be an unintentional hand touch.
After the match, Pereira expressed dissatisfaction: "In my opinion, it was clearly a hand-touched error, but the referee decided to recognize the goal". Forest fans also reacted fiercely, continuously shouting "3-2 for the referee" at the end of the match. However, the statistics of 29 shots and the xG index up to 4.19 of MU show that the home team's victory was completely deserved.
Mbeumo also experienced a match full of emotions. This summer's newcomer ended a 12-match goalless streak with a goal after Fernandes' assist, although he previously missed many good chances. However, the final focus still belongs to Casemiro and Fernandes - symbols of both the present and past of MU's midfield.
As for Carrick, his future as Man United head coach seems to have become clearer than ever.
