Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has delivered a scathing assessment of Diogo Dalot's performance following the Red Devils' disappointing 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Keane's Stinging Critique of United's Defence
The Sky Sports pundit and ex-United skipper was left distinctly unimpressed by the effort shown by Ruben Amorim's side at Villa Park. Keane singled out Portuguese defender Dalot, suggesting his manager should be taking a closer look at his contribution.
"I'd be looking at him," Keane stated emphatically. "I wouldn't be looking at other bits of the game." He argued that despite possessing talent, players must be willing to dig deeper when matches become challenging.
A Performance Lacking Fight
The defeat, sealed by a Morgan Rogers brace with Matheus Cunha scoring for United, marked another low point in a difficult run. Amorim's team have now managed just two victories in their last eight Premier League outings.
Keane took particular issue with the defending for Rogers' opening goal, questioning whether the United players recognised the danger in the build-up. "We're all sitting there and we know there's danger. Do they not know there's danger?" he asked rhetorically.
The Irishman's core criticism centred on a perceived lack of grit. "You've got to roll your sleeves up and when the game gets a bit tight there's moments where you go, 'I'm just going to do my bit for the team'," Keane explained. "There's too many players, like Dalot, that just don't do enough."
Injury Woes and Missed Opportunities
The loss was compounded by a significant injury blow, with talismanic midfielder Bruno Fernandes now set to miss crucial games over the festive period. This absence adds to the selection headaches for Amorim, who is already contending with players departing for the Africa Cup of Nations.
In the wake of the match, Dalot himself acknowledged that the coming weeks present a chance for others to step up. "This is the time when opportunities come for other players and you have to step up and show you deserve to be in the team," the defender told Sky Sports.
Youngsters Jack Fletcher and Shea Lacey were handed their debuts during the fixture, hinting at the squad rotation that may be required. However, Keane's stark analysis suggests that experience, not just youth, must show greater resilience if United are to reverse their poor form.
