Manchester United legend Roy Keane launched a furious tirade against his former club's lacklustre substitutes, singling out Mason Mount for particular criticism after a disappointing 1-1 draw with West Ham United at Old Trafford.
Keane's Scathing Analysis of United's Bench
The Sky Sports pundit did not hold back in his post-match analysis on Friday, 5th December 2025, following a match where Manchester United surrendered a lead against a West Ham side languishing in the bottom three. Keane argued the players introduced from the bench failed to positively influence the game, with their impact doing more harm than good.
"When you look at the squad, considering the money that has been spent, they lack strength in depth. Particularly in the attacking areas," Keane stated. He then turned his focus directly to summer signing Mason Mount, who had been the match-winner just days earlier against Crystal Palace. "I look at Mason Mount when he came on, some players take longer to get up to speed but he was like a schoolboy out there. You’re looking for players to come on with presence. If anything they brought the levels down at United."
A Frustrating Stalemate at Old Trafford
The match itself followed a familiar and frustrating pattern for the home supporters. Despite taking the lead through a goal from Diogo Dalot, United were pegged back and held to a draw, marking just one win in their last five Premier League outings. Manager Ruben Amorim had sought to press home the advantage by making changes, bringing on Mount and Manuel Ugarte for Matheus Cunha and Joshua Zirkzee, but the moves failed to alter the course of the game.
Full-time was met with audible jeers from sections of the Old Trafford crowd, reflecting the growing discontent with the team's inconsistent form. Despite the setback, the result leaves United in eighth place, just two points outside the Premier League's top four.
Questioning the Mentality of the Squad
Keane, renowned for his demanding standards, extended his criticism to the overall mentality within the squad. He questioned the players' capacity to handle pressure and see out games from winning positions, referencing this draw and a previous struggle against ten-man Everton.
"The reason you are playing for Man Utd is that you deal with these situations," Keane asserted. "You try and deal better being one up against a team in the bottom three... If you can’t deal with that, how can you deal with being a team at the top of the table?"
The immediate focus for Amorim's team is a trip to face winless Wolverhampton Wanderers, who sit at the foot of the table. After this latest stumble, anything less than three points will be deemed unacceptable for the under-pressure Red Devils.
