The aftermath of Sunday’s Manchester derby left a sour taste, especially for those connected to Manchester United. Two club legends, Roy Keane and Gary Neville, didn’t hold back their opinions. They voiced deep frustration after seeing the Red Devils lose again to Manchester City. It was another blow in what’s already been a very tough start to the season.
Keane, a former midfielder who now works as a sports commentator for Sky Sports, pulled no punches. He started his analysis by laying out the grim facts of United’s early Premier League performance. The team has only managed four points from four games, scoring four goals but letting in seven. And if that wasn’t enough, they also suffered a surprising defeat to Grimsby.
He spoke to Sky Sports right after the final whistle, pointing to the massive money spent during the last transfer window. Keane believes all that spending hasn’t made a difference. “Despite all the money spent, they continue to be a very ordinary team, with no signs of improvement,” he declared. The Irish great also slammed the players for their lack of fire. “No yellow card. The Manchester classic, normally it’s raining and there are fouls. They shouldn’t be able to get out of bed for a week and there wasn’t even a yellow card!” he exclaimed, adding, “Try to commit a foul. Try to hit someone. Football is a physical game.”
Meanwhile, Gary Neville, another former United star, offered his own take on the team’s showing. The ex-English full-back also spoke to Sky Sports. He raised questions about Ruben Amorim’s choices. Neville explained his confusion over the constant defensive changes.
“Whenever I see Manchester United, he [Ruben Amorim] changes the back three,” Neville noted. “That tells me he’s not sure who should play in the back three. He doesn’t just change the back three, he changes the entire back five line.” Neville, who played 400 games for the Red Devils, was asked how he felt after the derby loss. His answer was stark. “I’m not angry, I don’t feel anything, absolutely nothing, which is much worse,” he replied, highlighting a profound sense of emptiness.