Manchester United’s Premier League campaign has started on a sour note, and former captain Roy Keane has wasted no time in delivering a scathing assessment of the team’s prospects.
United slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on the opening day, despite showing flashes of improvement under new manager Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach handed opportunities to new attacking signings Mathus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško, but their efforts could not prevent defeat. The decisive moment came in the 13th minute, when Italian defender Ricardo Calafiori rose highest to punish a costly error by stand-in goalkeeper Altay Bayındır. The Turkish shot-stopper failed to deal convincingly with a cross, allowing Calafiori to head home the winner.
After the match, Amorim struck an upbeat tone, insisting that his team had shown ambition and were “not boring.” However, Keane was quick to dismiss that optimism, warning that United are in danger of enduring another disappointing season.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Keane admitted he saw encouraging signs in some of the new arrivals, praising their ability to handle pressure and show character. But his overall verdict was far from positive:
“There are still major problems at the back. You can talk about not being boring, but football is about scoring goals and keeping clean sheets. Right now, United aren’t doing either consistently. The expectations around the club have dropped so low that people are almost satisfied with mediocrity.”
When pressed on his prediction for the season, the outspoken pundit did not hold back, forecasting a mid-table finish.
“Tenth, maybe ninth,” he said bluntly.
Keane also reserved fierce criticism for Bayındır, whose error proved decisive. He stressed that a Manchester United goalkeeper must dominate the six-yard box with authority:
“If you’re the keeper, you have to take control. Stop complaining about pressure, and go out and be aggressive. Come with violence, command your area, and make sure you deal with it. Arsenal were strong and clinical in that moment. United were weak and soft.”
For Keane, United’s defensive fragility, lack of ruthlessness, and lowered standards remain glaring concerns—issues that he believes will keep the club far from the top of the table this season.
