Roy Keane's brutal Man Utd rant IN FULL after Newcastle loss: 'They're not good at anything!'
Roy Keane a LOT to say about Manchester United after their thrashing by Newcastle in the Premier League on Sunday, with the ex-captain slamming Ruben Amorim, Bruno Fernandes and more
Roy Keane has never been one to pull his punches, especially when talking about Manchester United, but his rant after their defeat at Newcastle on Sunday was quite something, even for him. United were demolished 4-1 at St James' Park as Alejandro Garnacho's first-half goal ended up forgotten amid the gloom.
Sandro Tonali blasted Newcastle into the lead early on, but it was Harvey Barnes' fine brace and Bruno Guimaraes' goal which underlined just how poor United are this season. Their 14th league defeat of the season left them in 14th place in the Premier League and increasingly reliant on their progression in the Europa League.
There was some calamitous defending from Ruben Amorim's side, with Noussair Mazraoui robbed by Barnes for his second goal and stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayindir chipped a terrible pass to Joelinton to set up Guimaraes.
Former United captain Keane was on punditry duty for Sky Sports and was typically furious in the studio, taking aim at Amorim, Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, Diogo Dalot and more in an astonishing rant. Here Mirror Football has condensed his words to the best.
READ MORE: Ruben Amorim confirms bitter Man Utd injury blow for Lyon game: ‘He will be out’READ MORE: Roy Keane butchers Man Utd and calls out one player with brutal rant after Newcastle thrashing'Physically and mentally weak'
"That's 14 league games they've lost now. We keep making excuses for this team. There are not enough players who can run in the team. I don't think there are players who want to run. Not enough of a goal threat. You've got to dig deep, even when you're up against it and they didn't do that in the second half.
"We spoke at half-time [about] the big test was to come in the second half. Looking at Newcastle, they're outstanding, they're used to winning big games now, they've got into a really good habit. United are the opposite. I think United now are physically and mentally a weak team.
"Newcastle were too fast, too powerful, more determined. The pace they had up front, United couldn't deal with their attacking players and they got what they deserved. Well done Newcastle, they were outstanding but United... this talk before the game about there are good signs, they're getting better, well I can't see it and I just saw another poor performance, particularly in the second half and I worry for this group of players, to me they don't look like a strong group mentally."
'Fernandes is full of soundbites'
"To be fair to Bruno Fernandes he fronts up and obviously the club push him out because he's the best player and the captain, of course it's important what he says, but to me it's just soundbites now. He was talking about his team-mates and belief but what about his right-back [Diogo] Dalot who didn't put a leg out to tackle? I hope he is pulling him in the dressing room because he keeps talking about having belief in his teammates but real good teammates put demands on each other.
"When I listen to Bruno, I have question marks about his leadership. He certainly isn't getting any help around him, it must be tough playing in that midfield when the expectation is on him because that's unfair on him. But when he's doing his chats about supporters and this, to me it's just soundbites. There is no meaning to it. I'm not sure this United group are an honest group.
"The best players put demands on me. That's what real good team-mates do. These aren't team-mates, they are bluffers."
'Amorim can't believe how bad they are'
"Nobody likes to lose games but sometimes it is the way you lose. It's the way they gave up some of the goals in the second half with mistakes from players and losing possession with Newcastle wanting to put you under pressure. That's the big hang up you'd have. They've lost 14 league games and they lost 14 last season. That is where you'd have to point the finger at this group of players.
"The only defence I have for some of the players is that a lot of them are still new to the Premier League, an the manager is new to the Premier League. I think the manager is scratching his head. He's obviously frustrated and he wants to focus on the next game, but you also have to reflect on the game against Newcastle. that is where we are at.
"I bet you he cannot believe how bad the Man Utd team is. He obviously cannot say that and he's talking about recruitment in the summer, but this group of players and the mistakes they are making. They cannot seem to get around the pitch and there's no power in the team. There are also players that can run but don't want to run, and that's another worry."
'Eriksen is not mobile'
"Someone must say 'can we tweak it, can we change it a little bit?' Because if we keep getting beaten... Again, it's on the back of last season, so it's not all on this manager but something's wrong. The players can't cope with it. There are players playing for Manchester United today - I go back to [Christian] Eriksen - United's midfield, they're not mobile, they can't get around the pitch.
"Newcastle's midfield were powerful, they were stronger, they were getting stronger as the game was going on. Eriksen should've left Man United one or two years ago! United are still going back to the players who I think are a major problem. Are these good players? I think some of them are. But are they good enough for Man United? Absolutely not!"
'He's been caught out'
"I think the Premier League has caught this manager and his coaching staff out. I know people do their homework before they go to a club but I think he's gone in there and been shocked at how bad this group of players are. You don't know the quality of a group of players until you get in the door and start working with them.
"Of course, you do your little bit of homework from the outside looking in and you'd have a bit of pride and ego thinking you could improve the players. That's a manager's job. But over the last couple of years the recruitment has been about bringing in players that haven't played in the premier league, and it seems to have caught a lot of them out.
"They can't seem to cope with the demands, the physical side of the game, and the lack of goals is a huge problem. In the past, United have always been entertaining and you'd think good for a goal, but with 15 minutes left at St James' Park, the game was over.
"There's nothing wrong with losing football matches. Great teams lose football matches, but sometimes it is about the way you lose. In the second half, it was nowhere near good enough. It's easy for the manager to say focus on Thursday but you have to look at today and this group of players, a bit of fight, a bit of spirit. They are lacking in quality, pace, and power, but my goodness, show some fight, and they didn't do that enough in the second half."
'They're not good at anything!'
Asked who will come into the side for the Lyon game, Keane replied: "[Andre] Onana, Casemiro, [Harry] Maguire maybe but this is not a prime [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Wayne] Rooney coming back into the team. And that's the strange thing about it, you're thinking 'have I missed somebody? Who is waiting to come back into the team? He's world class, he's going to the difference'.
"I know there's some experience to come into the team and United are at home on a Thursday night to Lyon, you expect Man United to win that game. Lyon are sixth in the French league! Just to dismiss today's match - I don't think it's good!
"What does help is if you start getting some sort of results, you start to dig in when you're up against it, get some spirit into the group. I don't want to use the dreaded word 'recruitment', but do they get some lads in the summer? Lads who are robust and know the league. The majority of those they've brought in over the last few years don't know the league and I think it's caught a lot of them out. I think you have to get some players who are used to the Premier League, who've played 100 or 200 games.
"It's about getting the right characters - we hear about Liverpool, Brentford, Bournemouth - this group (United) don't show that. They're not robust, they don't roll up their sleeves and dig out results.
"You look at certain teams in the Premier League and you hang your hat on one thing - they're big and strong, they're technically brilliant - but you look at United and you ask what they're really good at... They've not got a world-class striker, they've not got a strong spine, they're not athletic. So you look at United and you say, 'I'm not sure what they're good at!' They're not really good at anything! They've got some half-decent players but the table doesn't lie."
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