Roy Keane has laid into all but one of Ruben Amorim’s new Man Utd leadership group

Ruben Amorim has elected a new leadership group at Manchester United as he looks to turn the tide at Old Trafford, but Roy Keane has already criticised all but one of the players from that batch

Roy Keane has made his feelings incredibly clear on Ruben Amorim’s new Manchester United leadership group. After a lacklustre 15th-place finish in the Premier League, the Red Devils boss, who only took the reins in November, has worked endlessly to improve the squad he inherited from Erik ten Hag this summer.

For instance, United have already snapped up the likes of Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford to address a lack of goals last term, and they are currently pursuing RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese tactician has also elected a number of team leaders at United with hopes of cultivating unity among the squad. The group is made up of club captain, Bruno Fernandes, and seasoned veterans Harry Maguire and Tom Heaton, as well as Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui.

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Speaking about the set-up, Amorim explained: “We have a leadership group now. It’s not just Bruno. It’s not just Harry. It’s six guys. They are responsible for the group. There are some things that in the last year I had to deal with and I said to them this season, you deal with that.

“Small issues are with you guys. You’re responsible. All these small changes, but I think it’s helping the group. We have Bruno, we have Harry, Licha [Martinez], Diogo, Tom and Nous.”

He added: “I feel we’re more organised now. We’re so much better. What we eat, the way we behave on tour, on the pitch, the rules. I know they’re not kids and I don’t treat the players like kids. But I think these small rules can help a group to be strong. We have rules, and the rules are not to treat the players as babies.”

However, club legend Keane may take issue with the new strategy if his previous opinions on the players who are a part of it are anything to go by. For example, the 53-year-old has been a long time critic of Fernandes as club captain, questioning his leadership skills on the pitch while even going as far as calling for him to be stripped of his armband.

Speaking in October 2023 on Sky Sports, Keane said: “Today having watched him again I would take the captaincy off him 100 per cent. I know it’s a big decision, obviously they changed the captaincy with Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material.”

On Dalot and Mazraoui, meanwhile, Keane questioned their positional sense during United’s 3-0 pasting at the hands of Liverpool back in September, saying on Sky Sports: “When they lose it [the ball], they are all over the place. Listen, a player can make a mistake, but they are all all over the place.

“Look at your right-back, where is your right-back? Where is your left-back? You are not in control. Liverpool are good enough to punish [them]. Good players will punish you.”

The former club captain has also picked problem with Martinez’s lack of composure on the ball at times, despite his levels of experience. He formerly said of the centre-half: “Fans love him to bits, but [he needs] just a little bit of composure.

“This is an experienced player. Where’s that bit of composure that you need? They paid a lot of money for him to sort his feet out. That’s his job – to sort his feet out quickly and expect it to come to him.”

Elsewhere, Keane has previously issued an apology to Maguire over his consistent criticism of the seasoned centre-half. Speaking on The Overlap last June, he said: “I was harsh on Harry Maguire for footballing reasons. I’ve crossed the line with Maguire. I bumped into Harry a few months ago and I apologised to him.”

The only exception in the leadership set-up with regards to criticism appears to be Heaton, although this could be as the 39-year-old has had incredibly limited game time at Old Trafford over the years, appearing just three times since his arrival in 2021.

It’s not a one-way street with Keane and his old club, however, with the realist giving the aforementioned players credit where due. Keane did claim that Martinez is a player with “character” following United’s 2023 Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest, while also paying Maguire a compliment following England’s 0-0 draw with USA in 2022, although in backhanded fashion.

Speaking to ITV, Keane said: “He’s done well tonight. The reason he gets stick is because he’s not playing well. That’s football. For some reason everyone has sympathy for Harry Maguire. But he did do well tonight, done the basics right and defended, simple as that, that’s his job.”

It comes as serious reformation may be needed at Old Trafford to turn the tide at present, with United suffering their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season under Amorim’s stewardship. Pre-season, however, has been increasingly positive for United this summer as they make their preparations for a fresh campaign.

The Red Devils held Leeds United to a goalless draw midway through last month, before securing a 2-1 win over West Ham and a 4-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series. A 2-2 draw with Everton in the same tournament was their latest result on Sunday, as they prepare to return to Old Trafford to take on Fiorentina this coming Saturday. Their Premier League opener with Arsenal then follows on Sunday, August 17 at the Theatre of Dreams.

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