Roy Keane picks out four Man Utd players for criticism in scathing rant after Tottenham loss

Roy Keane launched a scathing attack on Manchester United after their underwhelming 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, and claimed his former side were ‘absolutely desperate’.

The Red Devils were second best during the encounter in North London and conceded from a Pape Matar Sarr strike in the 49th minute, while Lisandro Martinez’s late own-goal ended any hope of a comeback.

It’s the second game in a row where United have failed to impress and there were several disappointing individual displays. Speaking after the match, Keane highlighted Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford as players who he felt had let the side down against Spurs.

“It’s easy to play against Man United. They were poor against Wolves [on Monday] but they got the result and I thought they’d be better today; they weren’t,” opined the Irishman. “They were ok in the first half but the game is over 90 minutes - you can’t dominate for that long but you need to show some belief, desire and fight. 

“They’re bringing on Martial, you may as well bring on Frank Stapleton and Norman Whiteside. Martial is not going to get you out of trouble. Rashford played up through the middle again, he’s like a child up there. He’s obviously not comfortable and his body language and first few touches suggest he doesn’t want to play up front, but you have to do it, you have to do your job for the team. 

“You look at the captain, senior international players. They’re easy to play against, that’s the biggest insult I can give to those United players.

“Midfield, they looked lightweight. Decision-making from the attacking three… you look at the six players high up the pitch, when you’re out of position they give you absolutely nothing,” Keane continued. “You can carry one or two in your team that don’t give you much but can be match-winners, but United are carrying too many players when they’re not really at it. 

“These players, you’ll forgive them if they’re not doing the defensive stuff, but you have to be really good when you get on it, and they’re not doing that. You look at Mount and Fernandes out of possession, they look like schoolboys, they lack physicality. 

“We’re told Ten Hag is a brilliant coach but we need to see it. They looked flat - on the training pitch are they overtraining? They lacked energy. Every time I watch United at the end of games you think they have a goal in them but I didn’t think that today. At 1-0 or 2-0 it was game over.

“The biggest insult I always think is a team that can’t do it away from home and players who aren’t up for it. They’re a good team at home when they fancy it and have their fans in front of them. But second half today… weak, no leadership, gave bad goals away.”

Asked whether he felt United looked unlikely to mount a title challenge this season, Keane replied: “Forget it, you’re in cuckoo land. Going for titles? No chance, not with their record on set-pieces, lack of goals - they need to get a striker in so Marcus can go wide. The wide players… you call them fizzy drinks, no good to you away from home.”