Ruben Amorim has appointed a new leadership group at Manchester United, though Roy Keane has had plenty to say in the past on a host of the players who have been included in it
Roy Keane has been critical of most of Ruben Amorim’s new leadership group(Image: James Gill – Danehouse, Getty Images)
Roy Keane has already shared his views regarding the players in Ruben Amorim’s new Manchester United leadership structure.
Following a disappointing 15th-place campaign in the Premier League, the Red Devils head coach, who assumed control only in November last year, has worked tirelessly this summer to enhance the squad he took over from Erik ten Hag.
United have already secured signings such as Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford to tackle their goalscoring woes from last season, whilst they continue to chase RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko.
Additionally, the Portuguese coach has appointed several team leaders at United in a bid to foster greater harmony within the group. The leadership collective comprises club skipper Bruno Fernandes as well as experienced players like Harry Maguire and Tom Heaton, alongside Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui, reports the Mirror.
Discussing the arrangement, Amorim said: “We have a leadership group now. It’s not just Bruno. It’s not just Harry. It’s six guys. They are responsible for the group. There are some things that in the last year I had to deal with and I said to them this season, you deal with that.
“Small issues are with you guys. You’re responsible. All these small changes, but I think it’s helping the group. We have Bruno, we have Harry, Licha [Martinez], Diogo, Tom and Nous.”
Ruben Amorim has appointed a new leadership group(Image: PA)
He added: “I feel we’re more organised now. We’re so much better. What we eat, the way we behave on tour, on the pitch, the rules. I know they’re not kids and I don’t treat the players like kids. But I think these small rules can help a group to be strong. We have rules, and the rules are not to treat the players as babies.”
Nevertheless, Old Trafford icon Keane might well disagree with the fresh approach if his past comments about the players involved are any indication. The 53-year-old has consistently criticised Fernandes’ credentials as skipper, raising doubts about his leadership qualities on the field and even suggesting he should lose the armband.
Speaking in October 2023 on Sky Sports, Keane said: “Today having watched him again I would take the captaincy off him 100 per cent. I know it’s a big decision, obviously they changed the captaincy with Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material.”
Regarding Dalot and Mazraoui, Keane also challenged their positional awareness during United’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool in September, telling Sky Sports: “When they lose it [the ball], they are all over the place. Listen, a player can make a mistake, but they are all all over the place.
“Look at your right-back, where is your right-back? Where is your left-back? You are not in control. Liverpool are good enough to punish [them]. Good players will punish you.”
The former club captain has also taken issue with Martinez’s occasional lack of composure on the ball, despite his wealth of experience. He previously said of the centre-back: “Fans love him to bits, but [he needs] just a little bit of composure.
Bruno Fernandes has seen his fair share of criticism from Roy Keane(Image: ISI Photos via Getty Images)
“This is an experienced player. Where’s that bit of composure that you need? They paid a lot of money for him to sort his feet out. That’s his job – to sort his feet out quickly and expect it to come to him.”
Meanwhile, Keane has previously offered an apology to Maguire regarding his relentless criticism of the experienced centre-back. Speaking on The Overlap last June, he said: “I was harsh on Harry Maguire for footballing reasons. I’ve crossed the line with Maguire. I bumped into Harry a few months ago and I apologised to him.”
The exception in the leadership group when it comes to criticism appears to be Heaton, though this may be because the 39-year-old has enjoyed remarkably limited playing time at Old Trafford throughout the years, featuring just three times since his arrival in 2021.
It’s not entirely one-sided with Keane and his former club, though, with the pundit offering the mentioned players praise when warranted.
Keane did suggest that Martinez is a player with “character” following United’s 2023 Carabao Cup victory over Nottingham Forest, whilst also complimenting Maguire after England’s 0-0 stalemate with USA in 2022, albeit in typically blunt fashion.
Harry Maguire has been criticised by Roy Keane in the past(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking on ITV, Keane said: “He’s done well tonight. The reason he gets stick is because he’s not playing well. That’s football. For some reason everyone has sympathy for Harry Maguire. But he did do well tonight, done the basics right and defended, simple as that, that’s his job.”
It comes at a time when significant changes may be required at Old Trafford to reverse the current situation, with United experiencing their worst-ever Premier League finish last season under Amorim’s management. However, pre-season has been increasingly optimistic for United this summer as they gear up for a new campaign.
Last month, the Red Devils held Leeds United to a goalless draw, before clinching a 2-1 victory over West Ham and a 4-1 triumph over Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series. Their most recent result was a 2-2 draw with Everton in the same tournament on Sunday, as they get ready to return to Old Trafford to face Fiorentina this coming Saturday. Their Premier League opener against Arsenal then takes place on Sunday, August 17 at the Theatre of Dreams.
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