Man United are 'playing like a small club', blasts Roy Keane after their 2
Roy Keane declared that Manchester United are 'playing like a small club' after being held by Liverpool on Sunday afternoon.
Man United were outplayed in the first half at Old Trafford, and whilst Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo scored to turn the game on its head, Mohamed Salah's penalty meant the game finished 2-2.
After the match, Erik ten Hag seemed positive in his post-match interview, which led to a quip from Keane, who was at Manchester United from 1994 until 2005, captaining the club from 1997.
Keane told Sky Sports: 'Listen, obviously he's had a couple of glasses of wine after the game. I don't know how strong that is, but he seemed really upbeat, and I admire him for that, because he's obviously seen something that I'm not seeing at this moment in time.'
He also said: 'The way Man United are playing is like a mid table team, a small club, you don't know what you're going to get.'
Roy Keane said Manchester United were playing like 'a small club' after Sunday's 2-2 draw
Erik ten Hag gave an upbeat interview, which led the Irishman to question if he was drinking
He said that if Manchester United want to win the 'big prizes' once more, or even compete for them, they would have to turn up week-in, week-out, rather than relying on 'a bit of excitement'.
Keane noted that they had lost 12 games, and had a goal difference of minus one, which he declared as 'nowhere near good enough'.
While there was 'potential at the football club', the 52-year-old argued they were 'way off' from fighting with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool at the summit of the top-flight.
The Irishman said: 'They are competing at this moment in time with Aston Villa and Spurs for that fourth and fifth position, and at this stage, they're well behind them.
'So I don't get his positivity. Maybe that's just me being a bit old and grumpy.'
He said he didn't seen an 'upbeat performance' in the contest against Liverpool, particularly after his slating of the Man United showing at half-time, when they were 1-0 down to a Luis Diaz goal.
He gave the Red Devils 'credit' for two 'very good' goals from Fernandes and Mainoo, but felt that they were 'far' from making their way back to the good times, after conceding soft goals from set-pieces.
Keane felt that Man United were unlikely to challenge next season based on their current woes, and added: 'I'm not sure it's a real team out there.'
Manchester United's experienced players, including Casemiro, came under fire from pundits
In their last three games, Man United have dropped seven points from winning positions
For his part, ten Hag bemoaned the ‘stupid mistakes’ that have cost Manchester United valuable points in their floundering bid for Champions League qualification - with the team dropping seven points from winning positions in their last three league games.
‘I have very mixed emotions,’ said Ten Hag. ‘On one side, I am disappointed that we have dropped seven points, but we have to blame ourselves for making stupid mistakes.
‘On the other side I am very proud. You see how we are improving and the potential of this squad is amazing.'
After three straight games where Man United have let go of a winning position and dropped points, they travel to Bournemouth on Saturday, eight days before their FA Cup semi-final against Coventry City at Wembley.
Related articles
- The 'real-life Martha' from Baby Reindeer bombarded Sir Keir Starmer with almost 300 emails, it has2024-05-21
Pay offer a 'significant loss' to frontline officers
Labour's police spokesperson Ginny Andersen says the previous government's offer to police included2024-05-21Hong Kong's leading bookstores decline to stock new book by last governor Chris Patten
At least three leading bookstore chains in Hong Kong have declined to stock a new book written by th2024-05-21Enjoy last night's solar eclipse? How to tell if it could have PERMANENTLY damaged your eyes
It was dubbed the biggest astronomical event of the decade. An estimated 32million people enjoyed on2024-05-21College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
The field for the NCAA baseball tournament will take shape this week with conference tournaments det2024-05-21How Lulu still looks fabulous at 75, from her skincare 'golden rule' to refusing to take lifts
She may have shot to fame for her hit song 'Shout' in 1964 - but Lulu recently revealed that she'll2024-05-21
atest comment