Roy Keane has dismissed comments from Harry Maguire urging Manchester United to ‘stay together’ as ‘rubbish’, urging the Red Devils to do their talking on the pitch.
Manchester United are continuing to endure a difficult campaign that has already seen the dismissal of Ole Gunner Solskjaer, and new interim boss Ralf Rangnick has not had much success of improving their fortunes since taking over.
United face Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Monday night in the FA Cup third round in what is a must-win game to lift morale.
Harry Maguire has been slammed by Roy Keane after urging Man United to ‘stay together’
Keane feels Maguire has done too much talking and wants to see improvements on the pitch
After their last poor result – a 1-0 home loss to Wolves – captain Maguire came out swinging, calling on his team-mates to up their level and start winning games, telling them they can lift themselves out of the mire if they ‘stay together’.
But his attempts to lift the United squad did not go down well with Keane, who said the centre-back – who has been guilty of some error-prone performances this season – should not be taken too seriously with his comments, and wants United players to show their commitment to improve on the pitch.
‘How many times has he said that?’ Keane told ITV. ‘I wouldn’t listen too much to what Harry has to say.
‘I judge a player on what he does on a football pitch, not what rubbish he comes out with about “we need to stick together”.
Maguire himself has been guilty of a handful of poor performances for United this season
‘Judge a player on what happens on a football pitch.
‘United aren’t doing enough, but Aston Villa at home, you’d expect them to turn up and put in a good performance. It’s not been good enough recently.’
Maguire said United’s poor form simply could not continue and said it was time for the players to step up in an emotionally charged address.
‘We are letting the fans down and have to come out fighting,’ admitted the United captain. ‘This team finished second last year. We’ve a bigger and better squad this year so we have to show the right attitude.
United are languishing 22 points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City in seventh
‘We have big players in the team, leaders. I am sick of repeating myself, but it can’t continue like this. We need to go on a proper run, starting Monday.
‘I’ve obviously seen a lot of criticism and a lot of it is absolutely correct. From what the fans and ex-players have said, we get it. A lot of it is justified and we all have to take massive responsibility, myself as captain as much as anyone, if not more. We need to start winning and playing well as a team.
‘I came here to win trophies. I could have signed elsewhere but I wanted to be at United and help get them back to the winning ways. It will come if we all stay together.
‘I grew up idolising the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic and I want to repeat what they achieved. I am privileged to be captain and I have a responsibility to lead the players and turn things around.’