Roy Keane was previously critical of Manchester United's coaching team under Michael Carrick including the appointment of Jonathan Woodgate
Manchester United legend Roy Keane looks on
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has been proven wrong so far(Image: Michael Zemanek/REX/Shutterstock)
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Manchester United legend Roy Keane has been left red-faced after previously criticising the appointment of Jonathan Woodgate as a coach at Old Trafford. It comes amid reports that the United dressing room have quickly taken to the former Real Madrid player under interim head coach Michael Carrick.
The Telegraph claim that Woodgate has had a positive influence on United's dressing room. It is said that his fluency in Spanish is appreciated by the players in Carrick's squad who speak it.
"He’s close with the players, he can have a laugh, but he has a bit of authority about him as well," one source is said to have claimed. "He has that real understanding of what players want and need and what drives them."
Keane criticised United's coaching group under Carrick when they were appointed in January after the Red Devils sacked Ruben Amorim. Carrick's staff includes Woodgate, Steve Holland, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion.
United's improvement under Carrick has been dramatic, with the club currently on the Premier League's longest unbeaten run (10 matches), having overseen wins over title-chasing Arsenal and Manchester City. Much of the improvement has been put down to Carrick and his coaching team.
But Keane slammed the appointments at the time on Sky Sports, alluding to United's apparent fixation on former players who turned them into serial champions.
First Team Coach Jonathan Woodgate
Jonathan Woodgate has been a good addition to Manchester United's coaching staff(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
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He said: "I'm more concerned with the appointment and the staff that have come in. But I think I would be like that with most people at this stage of the season.
"Looking at the group of players they have, it is going to be a big ask. You look at Michael Carrick, his remit at Middlesbrough was to get promoted, he didn’t do that, so you could say he failed there.
"But it doesn't mean to say he is a bad manager. That was a difficult job.
"It is great for him, but I look at the staff he has brought in and we sit here every week and talk about Man United being the best of the best and at this moment in time I don’t see that, even with the appointment and the staff, but that doesn't mean to say they can’t get results.
"It's a great opportunity for him and his staff, but of course I'm concerned, but I said that about the previous manager."
United have the chance to move up to third with victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday (2pm GMT). It comes after Aston Villa suffered a shock 2-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday night.
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