Manchester United Look Scared From Title Battle, Says Roy Keane After Goalless Draw At Arsenal | Football news

Roy Keane criticized Manchester United’s desire after their goalless draw at Arsenal saw them lose ground to Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Edinson Cavani missed a golden opportunity to place the winner in the second half, but former United captain Keane said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team seemed to lack the faith to see an Arsenal team without key men Bukayo. Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kieran Tierney. .

The result, which adds to United’s shocking midweek loss at home to bottom-side Sheffield United, along with City’s victory over the Blades on Saturday, puts United three points behind their neighbors, who have a game. less.

“I’m scratching my head with United. The concern for me seeing them today, they almost lacked the belief that they could go and win the game,” Keane said. Sky Sports.

“It’s Man Utd, you’re looking at Arsenal who are missing some players, the game was there for the taking.

“Overall their performance lacked that intensity. There was a real lack of quality today at Man Utd, and a real lack of conviction and desire to go and bring the game to Arsenal. And Arsenal certainly deserved their draw, at least.” .

United were unlikely to top the table earlier this month after recovering from a slow start to the season and benefiting from mistakes by superior teams.

However, Keane says he is concerned about how they have reacted to being considered as title contenders.

“Where they were in the last few months, they were getting the applause and they were just sneaking up to the table. But they got used to winning football games, even if they weren’t playing very well,” he said.

“But all of a sudden, in the last three or four weeks, when they got to the top, people were saying ‘can you win the league, can you compete with Man City?’ And it seems the players have almost freaked out of the challenge , ‘I don’t think we’re ready for that yet.’

“That Sheffield United result can happen. And if you show up with a bad attitude, it will happen.

“But today I’m scratching my head on this team. You play for Manchester United, and Ole keeps talking about these players, saying ‘they are winners, they are winners.’ Well come on then. Show us. It’s is Man Utd. You signed for win soccer games, to win great prizes.

“My concern, having seen them today, and I have had question marks about this group of players for the last few years, I look at them, you have reached this great position, are you ready for that? It seems that you are almost afraid of them. You are. playing for Man Utd. Get it. Go ahead.

“They didn’t do it today.”

While Solskjaer tried to take on the positives of the performance and the result after the match, Keane believes United will look back to last week with regret at the end of the season.

“This Arsenal team is eighth in the league and three of their best players were missing,” he said.

“Man Utd and Ole then say, ‘ah, we took the draw.’ Too many draws when a team is there to take them doesn’t win you big prizes.

“At the end of the season, when you look back, those four or five points that we lost in those three or four days: huge.

“It really takes its toll at the end of the season when you reflect. Right now you can try to pretend it’s not that important, but it’s vitally important, especially when they’re there to take it.”

Carra: United lose a fantastic opportunity

Sky Sports insider Jamie Carragher believes that, given this unusual season’s circumstances and injury problems for preseason favorites Manchester City and Liverpool, United have a “fantastic opportunity” to compete for the championship.

However, he says, despite the positive results on paper (draw at Liverpool and Arsenal), United are not showing the attitude necessary to win the Premier League.

He also warned that waiting for the team to develop and ‘get ready’ for a title boost next season is a dangerous tactic, with City and Liverpool potentially even stronger in 2021/22.

“I had this debate with Gary Neville in the back of [the 0-0 draw at Anfield] and it’s the same tonight, “Carragher said.” Usually going to Anfield or going to Arsenal and getting a point is not a bad result.

“But today I would be angrier as a United fan than I would be in the middle of the week. Yes, it is a game you must win, Sheffield United. But these things happen sometimes and you lose a game you must not.

“But it’s almost as if United can’t believe where they are. People keep saying that United is not ready to win the league or that they are not good enough.

“But there is this idea that they are building and next year could be the year they do it.

“Manchester City this season have no strikers, Liverpool have no center-backs. It’s a strange season and maybe someone will qualify for the Champions League that we don’t expect.”

“For Man Utd, this is a fantastic opportunity in the situation they are in right now, but it is almost as if they are happy to be there.

“The results are not bad, in terms of today and Anfield, but I don’t see the intensity or the energy of ‘we are fighting for the league, we have to go for this.’

“They should have won those two games.

“This idea that next year will be the year of Man Utd … Liverpool and Man City could go back to 95, 96, 100 points next season.

“I think it’s a great opportunity and they will kick each other behind these two performances.”