- 12 hours ago
Keane hints at Man Utd SNAKE who got Ten Hag sacked
Robin Bairner
- 4 Nov 2024 02:01 CST
- 3 min read
Roy Keane has hit out at Manchester United’s players for not doing enough to save the job of manager Erik ten Hag.
Ruben Amorim is lined up to take charge of Man Utd later this month following the departure of the Dutchman, who was sacked following the Premier League defeat to West Ham last week.
Ruud van Nistelrooy has since taken temporary command, steadying the ship with a 5-2 EFL Cup win over Leicester City and a 1-1 Premier League draw against Chelsea.
Captain Bruno Fernandes appears to have come into Keane’s crosshairs following the decision, with the Portugal international doing himself few favours as he admitted the players could have done more.
STATS
Bruno Fernandes
M, AM (C)
Man Utd
Bruno Fernandes
M, AM (C)
Man Utd
Speaking after the Chelsea draw, Bruno said: “We all know that everyone is invoked, but only one pays. Because it’s easier to get rid of a manager than 10 or 15 players.
“I spoke with him and I did also apologise to him if there was something I could have done better for him; that I feel really disappointed that he is gone.”
Keane in veiled Bruno dig?
Keane, meanwhile, said that Ten Hag was let down by his players – something that Bruno tacitly admitted in his comments. He also cited familiar criticisms that the former Sporting CP star doesn’t work hard enough for the team.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “You always have sympathy for a manager losing his job and ultimately I think, whatever you think about the board, the players let him down by their efforts and not being good enough.
They have players who don't want to run, or when they do run they don't run hard enough, or run fast enough or long enough
- Roy Keane, Sky Sports“We make the point about there's a few players in the United team in big positions who can't run, right, which is a big problem.
“But they also have players who don't want to run, or when they do run they don't run hard enough, or run fast enough or long enough, and the players who aren't doing it, you have to try move them on, which is difficult because they're on long-term contracts.”
Amorim has signed a deal with United that will carry him through until 2027, yet Keane says the work that needs done will take longer.
“Ruben Amorim should have signed a longer contract. There’s a long way back for this team. This is an average United team, all the stats back it up,” Keane said.
Man Utd sit 13th in the Premier League standings while they have yet to win in the Europa League, a competition they face PAOK in on Thursday in Ruud van Nistelrooy’s penultimate match as interim manager before Amorim finally takes full charge.
