Late equaliser extends United’s poor run
Roy Keane delivered another brutal verdict on Manchester United after their 1-1 draw with West Ham at Old Trafford.
United looked on course for a much-needed win when Diogo Dalot scored in the second half, but a late strike from Soungoutou Magassa rescued a point for the visitors.
That result leaves United with just one victory in their last five matches in all competitions.
“They took their foot off the gas”
Speaking on Sky Sports, Keane was furious at how United handled the game once they went ahead, especially against a relegation-threatened side.
“After they get the goal, you are playing against a team in the bottom three, they take their foot off the gas,” Keane said.
“Take nothing away from West Ham and they just about deserved the equaliser.”
He argued the same issues keep repeating and that this performance summed up their recent run.
“Same old problems… they defended like a pub team”
Keane highlighted a familiar lack of intensity and mentality in this squad.
“Same old problems. The last three or four games, that sums them up. Not quite doing enough.
Where is the frustration with this group of players? I’ve watched the games closely, the lack of quality and intensity. They got two goals against Palace but they defended like a pub team. There is expectation at this club, you have to deal with that.”
For the former United captain, this team looks “desperate” and “frightened” under pressure instead of embracing the demands of playing for the club.
Neville: “I don’t get the lack of urgency”
Gary Neville, also on punditry duty, echoed Keane’s criticism and said he simply couldn’t understand what he was watching.
“I don’t get it, I don’t get the lack of urgency, and the lack of intensity. I don’t get the slow play. I don’t get the lack of risk in the game,” he said.
Neville insisted Ruben Amorim clearly wants a more dynamic approach than what is being produced.
“Ruben Amorim told us he wanted more intensity from the very beginning. Now I suspect, he’s not going back into the changing room saying ‘guys, play slowly tonight’. He’s saying ‘let’s get the ball moving quicker, let’s run forward, let’s play with real threat and vigour.’
It doesn’t transpire out on the pitch, so I don’t know, why does that happen? I’ve got no understanding.”
Pressure building on Amorim and the players
Between Keane’s talk of “desperation” and Neville’s bafflement at the lack of urgency, the pressure is intensifying on both the manager and the squad.
A run of flat performances, soft defending and missed opportunities has left United under scrutiny once again, with their response in the next fixtures now under the microscope.
