Keane is said to have been unimpressed after meeting the United squad
Roy Keane, as we’re all more than well aware by now, has never had any qualms with saying it exactly as he sees it. Even when it comes to talking about Manchester United, the club where he spent the bulk of his playing days, he has no issue in ruffling a few feathers.
Having already delivered more than a couple of scathing assessments of his former side’s current squad in his role as a Sky Sports pundit, it’s now been reported that a secretly-arranged visit to United’s training ground, where he was invited to speak to the squad, left Keane unimpressed at what he saw.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer asked his former teammate to come to the Aon Training Complex late last year to offer his players an insight to into the high expectations and responsibility that comes with representing the club. Other former players – including Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic – have also made similar visits.
According to The Mirror, though, Keane was left unimpressed by the attitude shown by one player in particular, who looked disinterested for the duration of the Irishman’s talk, sitting slouched in a chair. It isn’t clear if Keane addressed the matter with the player, who isn’t named, but the report claims he was left ‘furious’ at what he saw.
“As you’d imagine Roy has strong views on what it takes to be a proper United player and he gave it them straight,” a source is quoted as saying in the report.
“He wasn’t impressed with one player who didn’t seem to be all that interested and looked as if he’d rather be somewhere else.
“But for the majority it was a fascinating snapshot into the hunger and desire that drove Roy during his time at the club.”
Keane suggested only last month that United’s current crop of players would contribute to Solskjaer losing his job as manager. Speaking after their insipid showing in the 1-0 defeat at home to Arsenal, he insisted he remained unconvinced by the players at the Norwegian’s disposal.
“Ole will lose his job working with these players,” he declared after the game.
“As sure as night follows day, that is going to happen. I’ve been saying that for a month or two now.
“I’m just not convinced with these players. I go back to it and we often talk about characters at Manchester United, I just don’t see enough of them today.”
