Both Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire have worn the cpatain's armband at Old Trafford and are expected to step up in difficult times.
Roy Keane on Stick to Football.
Roy Keane has criticised Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire. (Image: Stick to Footall/YouTube)
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Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has hit out at Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire for appearing on podcasts amid the club's struggles. United fell to a 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
The defeat mean that the side are winless in their last five games in all competitions. The defeat was followed by an extrordinary outburst by Lisandro Martinez, who pointed the finger at the summer recruitment.
That reportedly led to a clash with a United teammate on the flight back to Manchester. Following the comments from Martinez, it's both Fernandes and Maguire who Keane has pointed to.
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He has hit out at their appearances on podcasts, with Maguire appearing on The Rest is Football during the summer's World Cup. Fernandes made an appearance on the Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, where he responded to previous criticism from Keane.
Speaking on Stick to Football, Keane said: "Bruno, Maguire... they're probably busy doing podcasts, I can't imagine them pulling him (Martinez). Bruno's body language, he doesn't seem a happy lad at the moment. They're pulling nobody.
"This reflects where Manchester United are and where this dressing room is. Maguire gets left out of the England squad - he's all upset with that. Instead of rolling his sleeves up during the summer, "I'm going to go to New York and do a podcast for a few weeks". That's his mindset.
"I made a mistake with Bruno (Fernandes) on this programme. Bruno goes on a podcast with (Steven Bartlett), this is the Man United captain, he goes on there, has a little dig at me, no problem, he's entitled to respond.
Bruno Fernandes during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between Atletico de Madrid and Manchester United.
Roy Keane has hit out at Bruno Fernandes' appearance on a podcast with Steven Bartlett. (Image: Gokhan Taner/PS Images/MB Media/Getty Images)
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"That's the mindset of a Man United player, I'm going to start doing these little gigs instead of getting Man United competing at the very top.
"So this idea, when I see a player have a little b**** the last few days, I'd be more annoyed at Maguire and Bruno for getting things off their chests on podcasts. You get your priorities in place as a footballer.
"Back in our day it was more magazines than podcasts, but if a player went off and said something, even silly, he'd come in the dressing room, and lads would say: "What are you talking about?" You'd put him in his place in that sense - not a big bust-up.
"Man United is a circus. If you can, try and do your talking on the pitch. If you have to let off a bit of steam, ok, but try and do it on the back of some victories, or when you've won a league title or something like that.
"These players have done nothing for the last few years at Man United. Two years ago we were finishing 13th (15th) or whatever, getting knocked out by Grimsby, and they're coming up with all these comments."
United currently sit in 13th place in the Premier League table. They are back in league action on Sunday afternoon when they travel to Elland Road to take on rivals Leeds United (2pm kick-off).