Manchester United legend Roy Keane was not happy with the team’s performance in the 1-1 draw against West Ham.
Another home fixture, another disappointment.
Ruben Amorim‘s side gave up a 1-0 lead and had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, after conceding a goal from a set piece.
It was a pretty flat display, where United played well at the end of the first half and start of the second, but relinquished control of the game too easily.
Amorim’s substitutions were a contributory factor, with goalscorer Diogo Dalot among the players taken off when the team were leading.
Who was Man Utd’s Man of the Match vs West Ham?
Manchester United attack a corner against West Ham
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Mason Mount puts his head in his hands
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Roy Keane criticises Mason Mount
Manchester United legend Roy Keane spoke with his usual ruthless tone after the team failed to get all three points.
The main subject of Keane’s ire was Ruben Amorim’s ineffective substitutes, and one player got it in the neck more than most.
Keane picked out Manchester United’s number seven, Mason Mount, pointing out how he failed to take command of the game when he came on.
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He told Sky Sports: “Mason [Mount], he comes on sometimes, and I know sometimes players seem to take longer to get up to speed than others. He was like a schoolboy out there.
“You’re looking for players to come on with a bit of presence and say, ‘Give me the ball.'”
He added: “The substitutes, if anything, brought the levels down for United. That seemed to be the case tonight.”
Referring back to Mount, he said: “Especially when he scored in the last game, you know what I mean? So, he should be energized, he should be positive and everything.
“‘Here, you’re on stage for 20 minutes, we are one up, so you don’t have to do anything spectacular, but keep the ball, get us some free kicks, corners, whatever it is.'”
As a player with stacks of experience at the top level, demands on Mason Mount are always high, even though his spell at United is still trying to get off the ground.
Ruben Amorim did him no favours, he would have been better off starting Mount after his weekend winner, with Matheus Cunha failing to take advantage of his starting opportunity.
Roy Keane SLAMMED Mason Mount
Was it unfair of Keane to single out Mount?
“He was like a schoolboy out there. You’re looking for players to come on with a bit of presence and say, ‘Give me the ball.”
Roy Keane on Mason Mount vs West Ham
Roy Keane / Mason Mount
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What Ruben Amorim said about the substitutions
Ruben Amorim brought on five substitutes during the game, bringing on Leny Yoro, Patrick Dorgu, Manuel Ugarte, Mason Mount, and Lisandro Martinez.
Amorim told Sky Sports after the game: “It is not an excuse. Players change but we know what to do. We need to close the game.”
Diogo Dalot scored his first goal for Man Utd since 2024 – Was Amorim wrong to take him off?
“It’s an instant kill on his first touch. He still has a lot to do. A brilliant moment for him and a great finish.”
Gary Neville on Diogo Dalot’s goal
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Keane added that he lacks faith in Manchester United to win convincingly and needs to be proved otherwise.
“Find a way to win, grind out a result. It couldn’t get any worse than last year.
“Defensively and in midfield, there are huge questions. I wouldn’t trust or believe in this team that they can get results.”
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