Roy Keane was on the money in his prediction of Manchester United’s struggles under Ruben Amorim.
The Red Devils icon has watched his former club play out another dismal season at Old Trafford, with Amorim’s side sitting 14th in the Premier League and already knocked out of both domestic cup competitions. While hope remains in the Europa League, that’s something Keane lost when watching their 1-1 draw with FC Twente back in September.
He was left astonished by Christian Eriksen’s post-match interview in which the former Spurs midfielder asserted that the players from the Eredivisie side “wanted it more than us.” This statement was deemed inexcusable by the former United captain, who feared for the remainder of the season.
“When players emerge after the [FC Twente match] and express, ‘I think they might’ve wanted it more than us,’ I essentially lost hope at that point,” Keane remarked during an episode of Stick to Football. “If that is the sentiment circulating in the dressing room, it is no surprise that the manager is facing difficulties. It is no wonder they are struggling to secure victories.”
Although Erik ten Hag was dismissed a month following the draw, Amorim has not fared any better, as United’s performance has declined further under the Portuguese manager. He has suffered eight defeats in his 16 league matches, five of which occurred at home. The team has failed to score in six of those losses, validating Keane’s concerns regarding the trajectory of United’s season.
“But that is the current state of United – it is inconsistent,” the Irishman continued. “They manage to win a few matches, yet they will lose many. They are too vulnerable defensively. They lack athleticism. They do not score enough goals. I am uncertain if there is a cohesive team present. I do not recognize this team. I do not recognize the club. I would be appalled if I came in after a match and sensed that another team wanted it more than we did.”
While Keane has not engaged in coaching since his five-year tenure as assistant coach to Martin O’Neill with the Republic of Ireland, he has been suggested as a potential addition to United’s staff to support Amorim by former teammate Mikael Silvestre. “I believe it would be beneficial for Roy Keane to take on a role at Manchester United,” the Frenchman stated to Yaysweepstakes.com.
Roy consistently treated everyone with the same level of respect, regardless of their status—be it a newcomer, a veteran player, or the manager. This approach earned him respect, much like it did for Sir Alex Ferguson. When one treats all individuals equally, there are seldom issues.
There appears to be a challenge with the current generation of players, as they seem to struggle with accepting criticism. If Roy Keane were part of Manchester United’s inner circle, he would prioritize the team’s unity and refrain from publicly criticizing players, thereby avoiding any potential conflicts.
In 2019, Keane visited the United squad at Carrington after receiving an invitation from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. During this visit, he reminded the players of the privilege of representing such a storied club and offered guidance on how to achieve success once more. However, his earlier comments suggest he may believe that the current players are beyond his ability to assist.