Manchester United left club legend Roy Keane struggling for words after a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal.
The Red Devils fell behind on a 20th minute goal from Leandro Trossard, and though Erik ten Hag’s side threw numbers forward in pursuit of a result late on, the Gunners held on with relative ease.
Keane, working as a pundit, has often been seen as one of the more critical voices in English soccer. Still, even he was left searching for the words to describe what has become of Man United.
“That United team there…so bad,” said Keane on Sky Sports’ post-game show. “Arsenal, coming over to Old Trafford over the years, have found it difficult, but against that team today?”
Man United managed just two shots on goal despite trailing for 70 minutes, turning a match against an old rival played in a downpour into more of a grind than anything that might inspire hope going into the final days of this Premier League campaign.
“I bet you Arsenal couldn’t believe how bad United were,” continued Keane, who seemed in disbelief discussing his old club. “Whatever bits of possession they had, the end product, the lack of quality…
“Over the years the great teams that’ve been here for United, the great players they’ve had, and you’re looking at that last half an hour. Decision-making, nobody digging anybody out [of trouble], people making mistakes, falling over, and everyone’s just walking away, not putting demands on each other.”
The defeat marks Man United’s 14th in the league this season, a high for the club in the Premier League era. You’d have to go back to the 1989-90 season to find last time a Red Devils side lost more league matches.
That was also the last time Man United finished a league campaign with a negative goal difference, and the club will have to work very hard to avoid that fate. Man United currently holds a minus-four goal difference heading into its final two matches of the campaign.
Arsenal’s goal was the 82nd conceded by the Red Devils this season, something the club hasn’t managed in 54 years. Sunday’s victory was just the second time in 17 years that the Gunners have claimed three points at Old Trafford.
Watch Keane lay into Man United’s performance
"That Utd team… so bad" ❌ pic.twitter.com/2ifIBi99ab
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 12, 2024
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