Roy Keane delivered another passionate rant about Man United ahead of the Manchester derby on Saturday, insisting his former club’s decision-making of late has been ‘a bit of a circus act’.
United, who sacked Ruben Amorim after suffering a disappointing draw at Elland Road earlier this month, handed the reins to caretaker boss Darren Fletcher before hiring Michael Carrick as an interim head coach until the end of the season.
Carrick, who takes charge of United for the first time against rivals Manchester City on Saturday, arrived at Old Trafford with a coaching team made up of former England No 2 Steve Holland, his old Middlesbrough colleague Jonathan Woodgate and ex-Red Devils star Jonny Evans.
Keane, who expressed concern over Carrick’s appointment earlier this week, has doubled down on his lack of confidence in United’s decision-making and has described the last few weeks as ‘a bit of a circus act’.
‘(I’m) concerned, concerned with the appointment and the staff that have come in, the manager. But I think I would be like that with most people at this stage of the season,’ he told Sky Sports ahead of the game.
‘Looking at the group of players they have, it’s going to be a big ask. You look at Michael Carrick, whatever his remit was at Middlesbrough it was probably to get promoted, he didn’t do that. He failed there, but it doesn’t mean to say he’s a bad manager. It was a difficult job.
Roy Keane tore into Man United’s ‘circus-act’ decision-making ahead of the Manchester derby
Michael Carrick was hired as Man United’s interim manager before the end of the season
Ruben Amorim was sacked by the Red Devils after he explosively criticised the club’s hierarchy
‘To get this opportunity, obviously it’s great for him but I look at the staff he’s brought in. We sit and talk about Manchester United every week being the best of the best, and at this moment in time I don’t see that. But even with the appointment and the staff, it doesn’t mean they can’t get results.
‘It’s a great opportunity for him and his staff but of course I’m concerned. I felt that about the previous manager.’
Asked what specifically concerns him, Keane added: ‘A bit of everything. The way it’s come around, the staff, the decisions they’re making behind it, what’s going on upstairs, you sack a manager previously, then you go to Fletcher. It just seems a bit of a circus act.
‘Of course if they start well today and get some momentum, I still think there’s a great chance for the manager and the staff to get in the Champions League, that’s got to be the aim. It’s not all doom and gloom, I’m just giving my opinion and concerns on someone getting selected manager of Manchester United.’
On Thursday, while appearing on The Overlap with Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright and Jill Scott, Keane ruthlessly dismantled the new Manchester United coaching group and raised doubts over some of their credentials.
The United legend again reinforced his concerns over Evans’ appointment as a coach ahead of the Manchester derby, suggesting the former defender lacks suitable experience to work with the first team.
‘What’s Jonny done? I like Jonny Evans, rock solid, I signed him twice. It’s not an issue with Jonny Evans, it’s an issue with the club and the decision-making, who they’re bringing in,’ he continued.
‘Jonny Evans left Man United four or five weeks ago right? He left in the summer as a player and they gave him a job as a loans manager. Leaves a month or two ago, had enough of that – not 10 years doing it, a few months. United are letting hundreds of people go at that club different staff every week, but Jonny walks away from that job.
Keane revealed he would not return to help the club if asked: ‘No, I wouldn’t want to work with people above me dictating who your staff are and telling you what players you’re bringing in’
Jonny Evans, pictured working with the team on Wednesday, returned to the club as a coach despite only leaving Old Trafford a few months ago following a spell as loans manager
‘He gets a call a week later, Darren Fletcher. Now my issue with Jonny, he’s got no coaching (experience). It’s not like he’s worked with the academy for a few years. Fletcher brings him in, it’s not like he has much experience but at least he’s worked at academy level.
‘Jonny gets a phone call from Man United having left as a loans manager, “Do you want to come back?”, I bet you Jonny’s thinking: “What as the kit manager or am I working with the Under-12s?”
‘He joins the first team, obviously a great opportunity, he has two games and they obviously don’t go too well. That’s the end of that? No, no, there’s a new manager coming in and he wants you as well!’
Fellow pundits Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards and Sky Sports presenter Dave Jones did their best to pose counter arguments throughout Keane’s stormy outburst.
After the rant, Jones asked Keane whether he would consider returning to help Manchester United in a role similar to Carrick or Evans, a suggestion which was quickly batted down by the Irishman.
‘Would I come and help Man United? No, I wouldn’t want to work with people above me dictating who your staff are and telling you what players you’re bringing in.’
