Roy Keane has been pleased with the progress Manchester United have made under Erik ten Hag and he has named the players they have been better off without.
Following their triumph over Nottingham Forest, United now find themselves in the final of the EFL Cup.
Man United have been trophyless since winning the Europa League back in 2017 and so this will represent the chance for Ten Hag to win his first trophy with the club.
Ten Hag has expertly guided Man United up the league table after a difficult start to the season. Keane feels that United have benefited from a summer clear-out.
“When the manager came in, United were rock bottom and we had to talk about the recruitment, but what I think was key as well was the five or six players that left,” Keane told Sky Sports.
“I’m not knocking all these players, Pogba, Mata, Matic, Jesse Lingard, lads who’d been around and knew they were leaving. They knew they’d be leaving and their contracts were up for most of them and I think that wasn’t helping.
“There definitely feels around the club a new energy, the new manager has put a few markers down after a bad to start to the season, and that momentum and that feel good factor is back at the club. The energy levels are different.”
When asked about the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo leaving the club, Keane also admitted that it was best for all parties that he moved on.
“I think that’s helped (Ronaldo’s departure) the manager and the club,” he added. “No one wanted that to be hanging over the second half of the season and it should have been dealt with in the summer. That whole Ronaldo situation, he obviously wasn’t going to sit on the bench and be happy with it.
“They’ve now dealt with it and now it’s now hanging over the club anymore. But also the other five or six lads that left, Cavani another one.
“Those who were fringe players, coming off the bench, and when they were coming on they weren’t bringing anything because they felt they should have been starting.
“Those subs and fringe players have to come on and be ready, where as the fringe players last year, you just felt they were energy-sappers.”
There’s no doubt that Ten Hag has transformed the culture at the club. Man United are now in a better position both on and off the pitch because of his impact.
Next up for his side is a Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace. Ten Hag will be keen on getting back to winning ways in the league after his side narrowly lost to Arsenal last time out.
Cristiano Ronaldo given reality check with Carlo Ancelotti’s verdict on Al-Nassr move
Al-Nassr showed their ambition by signing Cristiano Ronaldo, but the Saudi Arabian giants hinted his arrival would be followed by more with links to high-profile stars persisting
Carlo Ancelotti has hinted his Real Madrid players wouldn’t even consider the chance to join Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia.
The Real Madrid boss was speaking after Al-Nassr were linked with audacious approaches for two of Ronaldo’s ex-teammates, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric. The Saudi giants are still basking in the limelight afforded to them by Ronaldo’s stunning move at the end of last year.
Ronaldo signed a lucrative contract in the Middle East after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan effectively rubber stamped his Manchester United exit. The 37-year-old claimed he had made the move to Saudi with football as the chief motivator, having achieved all he could in Europe.
That came weeks after the Portuguese icon claimed he wasn’t tempted by the potential riches on offer and would instead retire on top. “It comes back to my gut feeling about you, that if it was just about money you’d be in Saudi Arabia earning a king’s ransom. But that’s not what motivates you. You want to keep at the top.,” Morgan said to Ronaldo.
The forward then responded: “Exactly. Because I still believe that I can score many, many goals and help the team.”
Modric, 37, and Benzema, 35, are the latest European superstars to be linked with a move to Al-Nassr, but Ancelotti has made it clear he feels that Real Madrid legends should retire at the Bernabeu. And the Italian went as far to suggest he didn’t even think they would broach the subject with him.
Luka Modric and Karim Benzema have both been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia
“I don’t think Benzema or Modric are going to come to my office, because I don’t think they need my advice.,” Ancelotti said. “The legends of Madrid have to stay in Madrid, and retire here. That’s what I think and we’re talking about two legends.”
Ronaldo is certainly in the bracket when it comes to Los Blancos greats, having won every major honour – including five Champions Leagues – and scoring a record 450 goals in 438 games for the club.
After signing a contract that takes him beyond his 40th birthday, it looked a near certainty that – rather than in Madrid – Ronaldo would end his career in Riyadh. But following his first two matches for Al-Nassr, his new manager Rudi Garcia has hinted that probably won’t be the case.
Cristiano Ronaldo is yet to score for Al-Nassr following his sensational move ( Image: Noor Abdelfatah/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“Cristiano Ronaldo is a positive addition, as he helps to disperse defenders,” Garcia said. “He is one of the best players in the world. He will not finish his career at Al Nassr though, he will return to Europe.”
Ronaldo is set to make his third Al-Nassr appearance later this week, having failed to find the net in his opening pair. He was also singled out by Garcia following their Saudi Super Cup defeat to Al-Ittihad, with his missed chance cited as a key factor behind the loss.
Garcia added: “Cristiano Ronaldo missed a chance that would have changed the course of the game in the first half, but I congratulate Al Ittihad. They were much better than us until half-time. Then we reacted but we couldn’t turn it around. We lost the Super Cup but we are still top of the league.”
Source: football365.com; mirror.co.uk
