Roy Keane has sensationally claimed he has “given up” on Manchester United as he questions the club’s “culture” amid their poor form.
The Red Devils have had an extremely disappointing start to the campaign and as a result, the pressure is starting to mount on Erik ten Hag.
Ten Hag has led the 13-time Premier League champions to their worst start in the competition as they sit 14th in the table with just eight points from seven games.
As well as their poor home form, United have also struggled in the Europa League, drawing against FC Twente and Porto.
United legend Keane has now revealed that the 1-1 draw at home against Dutch side Twente was the final straw for him and he “gave up” on the team.
Roy Keane has brutally claimed that he has “given up” on Man United amid their current struggles.
Pressure mounts on first-team coach Erik ten Hag after disappointing start
Keane said United’s 1-1 draw with FC Twente was the moment he “gave up”
speaking in Stay with footballbrought to you by sky betHe said: ‘After the Twente game. A really poor game. When you have players that come out and say, “I think they might have wanted it more than we did.” At that moment I gave up.
“If those are the noises coming out of the dressing room, then it’s no wonder the manager is in trouble and no wonder they’re not going to win football games. But that’s where United are at: it’s a hit-and-miss game.
“They will win some games but they will lose many.” I’m not sure there is a team there. I’d love to know what the culture is like on the training ground, who pushes each other, who pushes each other, who helps the younger players.
“Are the senior players right and want to get the job done against FC Twente instead of coming out and saying they wanted it more?”
For their recent draw against Aston Villa, Ten Hag opted to dispense with centre-backs Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt in favor of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans.
Speaking about that decision, Keane said: “You can’t keep going back to the guys who are part of the problem.” But if you think Maguire is the answer… The new boys need a chance.
‘Build relationships. Get used to each other. He takes them off during games and is quite stubborn. You have to be like that as a coach.’
Keane spent 13 years at United, eventually becoming captain, and won seven league titles as the Red Devils dominated the early years of the Premier League.
Comparing the United he was a part of to the modern United under Ten Hag, he stated that the Red Devils “have gone backwards”.
Keane criticized United’s ‘hit or miss’ nature since Erik ten Hag took charge at Old Trafford
The Red Devils have suffered their worst start to a Premier League campaign
He continued: “United was always made up of good people and good characters who could deal with playing for the club, but I don’t see that now.” I don’t recognize this team and I don’t recognize the club.
‘A couple of months ago people were saying that new people had joined and that they would have all the answers. They have spent more money on recruiting but have gone backwards.
“When we talk about United, it’s more like a business, but it’s a football club. A football club is about people turning up and making a change. What I see at United can be a bit harsh, I’m not sure see good soccer players making the right decisions for the club.
United’s new management team, led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, recently met in London for a scheduled executive meeting, given their difficulties so far.
Ratcliffe was seen taking Sir Dave Brailsford and Dan Ashworth to his offices on Tuesday morning ahead of their long-awaited meeting.
Two draws in the last week, including a 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League and a goalless draw against Aston Villa yesterday, have halted a run of defeats but have done little to stabilize Ten Hag’s position.
Minority owner Ratcliffe watched United’s goalless draw against Aston Villa on Sunday alongside director Brailsford, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, centre, was seen leaving the Ineos headquarters in Knightsbridge on Tuesday.
Ratcliffe (blue suit) and Sir Dave Brailsford were among the decision-makers at the meeting.
Discussions about Ten Hag’s future continued into Monday and will be back on the agenda when co-president Joel Glazer, chief operating officer Collette Roche and chief financial officer Roger Bell join them at the executive committee meeting on Tuesday.
United fear fueling speculation over Ten Hag’s future after Thomas Tuchel and Simone Inzaghi were linked with the job if he is sacked after two and a half years in charge at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe is known to be an admirer of Tuchel and met the German manager in Monaco during the summer when Ten Hag’s future was in doubt ahead of the FA Cup final.
Tuchel is still available but it is unclear whether the obstacles that prevented him replacing Ten Hag can now be overcome.
Roy Keane was speaking at the Stay with football podcast, presented by sky bet
