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Manchester United legend Roy Keane slammed the Red Devils as “average” and “boring” after their 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Keane bluntly said “this is an average United team, all the stats back it up.”
He continued his post-match evisceration by pointing to their chronic lack of consistency, adding “we came and watched Man United again today, you don’t know what you’re going to get with them.
“They could have won the game, they had a couple of chances towards the end, but you’re also looking at it thinking there’s a good chance they’re going to lose it, it’s hit and miss.” This was certainly not meant as a compliment for an exciting end-to-end match.
Fellow Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp branded the first hour of the game a “tough watch” and compared it to “a pub game at times”, and ultimately either side could have won it.
The hosts took the lead through Bruno Fernandes, who converted coolly from the spot, but couldn’t maintain the advantage as Moises Caicedo lashed home a beautiful volley to ensure points were shared.
Once it rumbled into life, as a spectacle the game wasn’t too dull but after some hesitation Keane used one of the most damning terms imaginable for a Manchester United side – “boring”.
“I hate using the word,” the former United captain said, “this United team is almost… boring seems a bit strong, but you just look at the lack of conviction in the chances”.
Keane is not known for shying away in his criticism of his former employers, so his reluctance to apply the word shows just how bad things have got for him. He continued to call the performance “really disappointing” and “flat”.
United’s ineptitude in front of goal continued as they missed a slew of big chances in yet another game, and Keane bemoaned “top quality players missing open goals”.
Unsurprisingly, he was also unimpressed by the players apologising to each other after making mistakes: “stop saying sorry, put the ball in the back of the net, keep everyone happy.”
New head coach Ruben Amorim starts work at Old Trafford next week and faces a huge job turning things around for a United team which Keane feels is “way off it in terms of getting back into that top four and competing.”
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images