"Man United is a circus. If you can, try and do your talking on the pitch."
That was Roy Keane's verdict on Manchester United after another bad spell for the club, with Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire both caught in his criticism for spending time on podcasts and public complaints while the results keep sliding.
He went further in comments to A Bola, saying Fernandes and Maguire were probably busy recording podcasts and that a footballer has to have his priorities in the right place. Keane also said Fernandes' response to criticism on a podcast showed the kind of mentality he dislikes at United.
United's recent slump
The timing makes the attack sting more. United have not won in five games, and they have only one victory in their first six Premier League matches. A separate report from Manchester Evening News says they are 13th in the Premier League, and they go to Leeds on Sunday at 2pm.
Keane's wider point was about standards, not just one interview or one podcast appearance. He said the club looks like a circus and that players should start with the man in the mirror before speaking publicly.
Lisandro Martínez recently criticised United's structure as well, which gives Keane's frustration another layer. When senior players are speaking about the club in public and the results are still this poor, it is hard to argue the noise is helping anyone. United need a result at Leeds, and they need it quickly.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
