Roy Keane’s Shortlist of Seven Essential Players for Manchester United
If given the option, Roy Keane says he would only keep seven Manchester United players.
After a humiliating 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich at home on Tuesday night, United prematurely exited the Champions League. If Erik ten Hag’s team had won, they would have advanced to the next round, but that wouldn’t have mattered because FC Copenhagen had already defeated Galatasaray.
Given that the Red Devils are now 10 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, many believe the team’s season is all but gone. Many had anticipated that Ten Hag would have the means to contend for trophies after acquiring assets for around £200 million this summer.
However, if United are to get out of their current crisis, club great and Sky Sports pundit Keane believes the entire team needs to be revamped. The analyst talked about who on the current team he would keep and who he would let go of while appearing on the Stick to Football podcast with Ian Wright, Jamie Carragher, and former United teammate Gary Neville.
But astonishingly, Keane only managed to rest seven players from a 22-man roster. Lisandro Martinez, the defender, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandez, the captain, teenage players Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo, and summer additions Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount were among them.
It’s interesting to note that at a point when Ten Hag’s position has been under increasing criticism, the Irishman also declared he would retain Ten Hag as manager. It implies that he does not believe Ten Hag is to blame for the team’s ten-year struggles.
Senior players like Harry Maguire, who has had a breakout season, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, and Jonny Evans were all cut by Keane. In addition, he cast doubt on Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw while adamantly promising to give them one “last chance.”
Signing Flop The list of people who had to leave included Anthony Martial as well, while Christian Eriksen, 31, was judged to be “not good enough.” And it looks like Ten Hag is preparing a big clean-out, so Keane might still get his dream.
As their contracts expire at the conclusion of the season, players like Martial are anticipated to leave, and Jadon Sancho, the outsider, might be fired as early as January.