Roy Keane did not hesitate to make a significant impact during his discreet visit to the Manchester United squad.
The former Irish international, who has recently been suggested as a potential returnee to assist Ruben Amorim by his ex-teammate Mikael Silvestre, made an appearance at Carrington in 2019 while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at the helm. Keane was among several former United legends invited by Solskjaer in an effort to motivate and energize his youthful team.
As expected, the Sky Sports analyst was forthright in his remarks. He emphasized the importance of understanding what it means to represent United and the sacrifices required to achieve success at Old Trafford, particularly as the club navigated the transition following Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. Although the visit was deemed successful, Keane expressed disappointment regarding the attitude of one unnamed player.
A source informed us at the time: “Roy, as you can imagine, has strong opinions on what it means to be a true United player, and he conveyed that directly.
“He was not pleased with one player who appeared disinterested and seemed to prefer being elsewhere. However, for the majority, it provided a compelling glimpse into the determination and ambition that characterized Roy’s tenure at the club.”
Despite achieving top-three finishes in both of his full seasons, Solskjaer’s tenure was ultimately viewed as unsuccessful due to the absence of trophies, leading to his dismissal early in the 2021/22 season.
The current situation at Manchester United stands in stark contrast to the more prosperous times of the past. Amorim’s team is currently positioned in 14th place in the Premier League and has been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions.
This decline has prompted frequent criticisms from Roy Keane and his Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville regarding the overall condition of the club. Recently, Keane has been particularly vocal about the leadership of captain Bruno Fernandes. However, another former United player suggests that Keane, at 53, would be a valuable addition to Amorim’s coaching staff.
“I believe it would be beneficial for Roy Keane to take on a role at Manchester United,” stated ex-defender Silvestre in an interview with Yaysweepstakes.com. “Roy has always treated everyone equally, regardless of whether they were a new signing, a veteran player, or the manager.
“That approach earned him respect, much like it did for Sir Alex Ferguson. When you treat everyone the same way, there are no issues. It is true that some players today may not crumble under criticism, but it affects them more than it did in the past. We had a tougher mentality.
“I noticed Joshua Zirkzee apologizing on social media for missing a penalty against Fulham. Missing a penalty is not a crime! There is no need for such an apology. Moreover, he performed well in the game, so he should not be too hard on himself; it is simply part of the game.”
I recall the moment when Paul Scholes missed a penalty during the FA Cup final in 2005, resulting in our defeat to Arsenal. He was undoubtedly one of the finest players of his era, yet he did not offer an apology, as such occurrences are part of professional sports. One must accept these situations and strive to recover.
There appears to be a challenge with the current generation of players regarding their response to criticism. If Roy Keane were still part of Manchester United, actively engaged with the team, he would prioritize the welfare of the group. Public criticism of players would be unlikely, thus preventing any related issues.
Manchester United is set to compete against Real Sociedad away in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday. This tournament represents the club’s final opportunity to secure a trophy and ensure qualification for European competition in the upcoming season, amidst a challenging year.