“They’re playing like individuals.”
It was always going to be worth listening to Roy Keane’s take on Manchester’s United’s spineless performance which saw them unceremoniously dumped out of the Champions League.
United fell to Sevilla at Old Trafford, losing 2-1 after a scoreless draw in Spain in the first-leg left matters poised rather precariously.
Jose Mourinho’s side sleepwalked their way through the first 74 minutes until Wissam Ben Yedder’s one-two punch in the space of four minutes sent the Premier League side tumbling out of Europe.
Keane, speaking on ITV’s Champions League highlights programme on Wednesday night, said United’s performances over the two legs was simply not enough and that they did not deserve to be in Friday’s draw for the quarter-final.
“The expectation was for United to go through, but over the course of the two games, they didn’t deserve it,” Keane said.
“They are playing like individuals, not a team. I’m not surprised Man United lost because you just don’t know what you are going to get with this team. You can talk about tactics and systems, but players have got to do their job and when you are playing for United, you expect more.
“I always felt when you put on the jersey that you enjoyed the pressure, the history, the badge, the expectations. I get the impression with this team, they don’t look like they are enjoying that pressure.
“Sevilla grew in confidence and after 10 minutes they probably felt there is nothing to fear here. They kept the ball well and deserved their victory.
“The two goals United gave away were shocking, whatever level you are playing that. It makes it very difficult. Give them credit, they turned up played well and deserved to go through, but you expect more from United obviously.”
It needed to be said https://t.co/EUAwOGt5z0
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 14, 2018
It was a sober assessment, one which cut straight to the heart of United’s problems. Whether it’s Mourinho’s workaday brand of football or the clutch of mega-money signings not truly appreciating the history of the club, United’s performances, at times, this season have seemed like a group of individuals thrown together.
Keane represents a relic of a bygone era, a bestriding on-field general who always gave his heart and soul to the cause. United now undoubtedly lack the direction, cohesion and overriding will to win the club had under Alex Ferguson’s management and Keane’s captaincy.
Although Keane concedes that dipping into the transfer market isn’t always the solution, he believes it would certainly be to United’s benefit to sign three or four players this summer.
“He knows they are short, we have seen that for the last three of four years,” the former United captain continued.
“I know people say that isn’t always the answer, but they are short three or four players and some of the players playing for Manchester United are not good enough. If they are selected they will play, but they are not good enough.
“Mourinho will obviously try to defend the team, but I won’t take much notice of what he said. Last season, the manager was saying he had won three trophies and he was including the Charity Shield. My God, now you’re in trouble.”
The last line? Ouch.
