Former United captain Roy Keane has strongly criticized Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelöf after The Mancunians’ victory over Nottingham Forest. According to the Sky Sports analyst, the pair lack the required level to be of value to United.
Keane cracks the United pair and zooms in on Weghorst’s competitor
Maguire and Lindelöf were together in the center of defense against Nottingham on Sunday due to the injuries of Raphaël Varane as Lisandro Martínez, who will probably be missing from manager Erik ten Hag’s team for a long time.
Keane did not see Maguire and Lindelöf play convincingly against Forest at the City Ground and expects United to enter the market for defensive reinforcements in the next transfer window. “These are just two experienced internationals, so you can expect them to perform against a Forest that is in trouble,” Keane said at Sky Sports.
“They are not normally starters, but when you come in, as a United player, you have to take your chance. Of course Maguire and Lindelöf need players around them who can offer them protection, but they are under contract with Manchester United for a reason. If you are not able to contain the Forest forwards, then you do not belong at United,” said Keane.
Manchester Evening News called Maguire ‘a walking disaster’ in the first twenty minutes of the game. But gave the defender a 6 after his performance against Nottingham. Lindelöf came off much better in the assessment at the regional newspaper: he received an 8. Wout Weghorst, who was booked as a substitute for a slashing movement towards Forest defender Moussa Niakhaté, received a 6.
Competitor Weghorst
Keane also discussed the role of Anthony Martial, who was given a starting place due to Marcus Rashford’s injury. And was replaced by Weghorst twenty minutes before the end. “The problem with Martial remains his physical condition. Seems like he always has something. When he plays, his stats are okay, but you can’t always fall back on them. I also don’t know if Martial can bear the responsibility of being the strike leader at this point.”
