Roy Keane goes to town on Man United players after Man City defeat

Robert Redmond

“This team doesn’t have personality.”

Roy Keane was heavily critical of the Manchester United squad after the team lost 2-0 to Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.

Man United barely laid a glove on the Premier League champions. Pep Guardiola’s side cruised through the game, winning thanks to an Eric Bailly own goal and Bernardo Silva’s strike before half-time.

The scoreline, however, did not reflect Man City’s dominance or the gulf between the two teams.

Keane was critical of the Man United players at half-time but stepped it up a notch at full-time.

The former Red Devils captain took aim at several of Solskjaer’s players, from Fred to Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire to Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

“If you’ve got bluffers on the bus with you, and you’re dependant on Shaw and Wan-Bissaka, Ole you might be better of out of it,” the Cork-native said.

🗣"If you've got bluffers on the bus with you, and you're dependant on Shaw and Wan-Bissaka, Ole you might be better of out of it."

Roy Keane is unsure whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the man for Manchester United pic.twitter.com/PYbXnWBOse

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 6, 2021

Keane also said that the Man United squad lack “personality” and that he believes several of the players are simply not of the level required to represent the club, regardless of who the manager is.

The Irishman also said United are now a soft touch at Old Trafford.

“Phil Foden mentioned it is a tough place to come, it’s not,” the former Sunderland coach said.

“Ask Everton, ask Aston Villa and Liverpool – teams have come to Old Trafford and are getting a hit of joy now.

“We go back to that I look for characters. Scott McTominay, who I know is learning his trade. Fred in midfield. These players are not good enough for Manchester United.

“Defensively, I wasn’t shocked when Eric Bailly sliced that into his own net. He’s got that in his locker. He’s erratic. It was so comfortable for Man City. They just toyed with Man United.”

The former Ireland midfielder then turned his focus to Solskjaer, his former teammate who is under enormous pressure and scrutiny. The Norwegian has now presided over humiliating defeats to United’s closest rivals – 5-0 to Liverpool and the loss Man City on Saturday – in consecutive home Premier League games.

He didn’t criticise Solskjaer directly but said if he cannot get more from the players at his disposal then his job is on the line.

“Ole seems to have been under pressure since he walked into the club and that isn’t going to go away because, from the first day he got the job, people didn’t think he was up to it because of his track record and his CV at Cardiff, which was a tough job.

“So, every time there’s a problem the pressure is just going to build on Ole, but also a lot of the players.”

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