Manchester United legend Roy Keane has voiced his frustration with the club, admitting he’s “given up” on them amid their current struggles, while raising concerns about the team’s culture.
The Red Devils have endured a poor start to the season, with growing pressure on manager Erik ten Hag. United currently sit 14th in the Premier League, having made their worst-ever start to the competition with just eight points from seven matches.
Speaking on Stick to Football, a show by Sky Bet, Keane reflected on the team’s disappointing performances, saying: “After the Twente game—a really poor game—when players started saying, ‘I think they might have wanted it more than us,’ I kind of gave up at that stage. If that’s what’s coming out of the dressing room, it’s no surprise the manager is in trouble and they’re not winning matches. United are inconsistent. They might win a few games, but they’ll lose plenty too. I’m not sure there’s a cohesive team there.”
Keane also questioned the internal dynamics at the club, wondering whether the senior players were stepping up to guide the younger ones and foster a strong team spirit. “Are the senior players committed to getting the job done against FC Twente, instead of just admitting the opposition wanted it more?” he asked.
In a recent match against Aston Villa, Ten Hag made the controversial decision to replace centre-backs Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans. Keane criticized the move, saying, “You can’t keep going back to players who are part of the problem. If you think Maguire is the solution… The new players need a chance. Relationships take time to build.”
Reflecting on his own 13-year career at United, during which he won seven league titles, Keane compared the current squad to the team he once knew. “United always had strong characters who could handle the pressure of playing for the club. I don’t see that spirit now. I don’t recognize this team or the club.”
Keane also expressed disappointment in the club’s direction, saying, “There was optimism with the new arrivals, and people thought they had all the answers. But despite spending more on recruitment, the team has regressed. It feels like the club is more focused on business than football. United was built on people coming in and giving their best, but I don’t see the right decisions being made by football-minded people for the good of the club.”