Mauricio Pochettino has been appointed as the new Manchester United head coach, replacing the sacked Michael Carrick. The club paid £7million to bring in the Argentine, who will take charge of his first match against Liverpool at Anfield on 22 November. Before that, he will lead the USA national team in two matches against Haiti during the international break, before linking up with his new squad at Carrington.
Keane's Demands
Speaking on ITV's coverage of England's Nations League clash with Croatia, Roy Keane outlined two changes he wants to see at United: improvements from the players and a change in club ownership. However, Pochettino can only influence the former.
Keane said: "The players, of course. The players have to have a good look at themselves because it's the manager who pays the price. And long term they have to change the ownership of the club. But the players have to do a lot better."
He added: "They've got to work harder and they've got to have a bit more pride in their play. There needs to be more desire not just in possession but out of it too because they're very, very easy to play against. If you're a professional footballer and people think it's easy to play against you, that's the biggest insult."
Immediate Priorities
One of Pochettino's first tasks will be to steer the team away from the relegation zone. United currently sit 18th in the Premier League, one point adrift of both Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, having won just one of their 10 league matches this season.
The new manager's high-energy style will require adaptation from the squad, but he will not be able to influence who owns the club or any potential sale. Fan protests towards the hierarchy have occurred in the last couple of games and could continue despite the managerial change.
Supporters' Trust Criticism
Keane's comments came hours after the Manchester United Supporters' Trust criticised the club's ownership in response to Carrick's sacking on Thursday. In a statement, the Trust said: "The reason Manchester United fans have continued to support Michael Carrick in recent weeks is that they know that responsibility for United's problems do not primarily rest with him or indeed his predecessors as manager.
"They lie with the ownership. The Glazers' debt-funded takeover continues to burden the club. When INEOS came in they promised sporting excellence, but yet with repeated changes in football leadership we have seen anything but. It is time for the owners to explain themselves and show some accountability."
United are owned by the Glazer family, who have been majority shareholders since 2005. Sir Jim Ratcliffe bought a minority stake in December 2023 and has faced criticism for overseeing cost cuts and a decline in on-pitch performance.
