Manchester United icon Roy Keane has launched a scathing attack on his former club, branding the current squad as fundamentally "average" and dismissing any excitement around potential new managers as a distraction from the team's deep-rooted problems.
The fiery pundit delivered his characteristically blunt assessment following United's latest underwhelming performance, leaving no player or excuse unscathed in his critique.
Keane's Brutal Verdict on United's 'Soft' Centre
Keane, never one to mince his words, eviscerated the character and quality of the current playing staff. He pinpointed a lack of leadership and mental toughness as the core reasons behind the team's continued failure to challenge for top honours.
"The bottom line is that too many of these players are just average," Keane declared. "We talk about managers coming in, but you need good players. I look at this United squad and I see a softness, a lack of real quality. They've spent a lot of money on a lot of average players."
Ruben Amorim Links: A Managerial Mirage?
Amidst speculation linking highly-rated Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim with a move to Old Trafford, Keane poured cold water on the idea that a new boss is a magic bullet solution.
He argued that no manager, regardless of their reputation or tactical acumen, could succeed with the existing squad's limitations. Keane suggested the discussion around high-profile names like Amorim is a smokescreen that avoids addressing the more pressing issue of player recruitment and squad building.
A Culture of Excuses and Underperformance
Keane's rant extended to the culture of the club, which he believes has accepted mediocrity for too long. He highlighted a recurring pattern of excuses—from injuries to fixture congestion—that shield players from accountability for poor results.
"It's always something with this lot. An injury, a bad decision, the pitch wasn't right," he said with exasperation. "Top players overcome that. They find a way to win. This group doesn't have that in them. They're not up for the fight when it gets tough, and that's a mentality problem."
The former midfield enforcer's comments will resonate with a large section of the United fanbase that has grown increasingly frustrated with the team's direction and the perceived lack of fight on the pitch.
