“It could get uglier.”
Roy Keane launched into a diatribe against Manchester United for what he feels has been disrespectful and “ridiculous” treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The former Manchester United captain was reacting to comments from Erik ten Hag after his side were blitzed 6-3 by Manchester City, at Etihad Stadium. The Dutchman opted to leave the 37-year-old on the bench ‘out of respect for his big career’.
“I think it’s ridiculous for a player of his stature, for Man United to just keep him [on the bench],” Keane told Sky Sports.
“Even today, could he have brought him on? Of course, he could’ve brought him on. So what if you’re four nil down. If you look at his goalscoring record, he has as good a chance as anyone of putting the ball in the back of the net.”People obsessed with the pressing side of the game… If you put the ball in the right areas, he’ll score goals.”
“Man United are showing disrespect to Ronaldo,” he added. “I think he should’ve been let go before the transfer window [closed].
“I think the manager holding onto him, ok, you say you need options, but if you don’t hold onto Ronaldo to sit on the bench He’s one of the greatest players ever, he had options, this idea that he had no options is rubbish. He did have options, four or five very good options.
“Ok, today, the manager brought Martial on, who scored two, so yeah that’s justified. But generally speaking, the bigger picture, he’s not going to play Ronaldo, we know that.”He’s played in one or two European games, it’s just going to get uglier as the season goes on. Ok, Ronaldo’s motivated with the World Cup coming up. But if he’s sitting on the bench for Man United week in week out, it’s not good.”
"𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙍𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙙𝙤!" 😤
Roy Keane believes Man United should have let Cristiano Ronaldo leave the club in the summer. pic.twitter.com/Zgs4vlItPG
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 2, 2022
“It’s just going to get ugly,” Roy Keane added, on the Cristiano Ronaldo situation, “And I think United have shown nothing but disrespect to Ronaldo.
“They should’ve let him go when the opportunity came. He did have options, I know that for a fact, and holding onto him to sit on the bench I think it’s ridiculous for a player of his stature, for Man United to just keep him (on the bench).”
Cristiano Ronaldo sits out Man United thumping
Manchester City hammered Manchester United 6-3 on Sunday in the Manchester derby, blitzing their cross-city rivals in an incredible display.
Phil Foden (3) and Erling Haaland (3) scored the goals for Pep Guardiola’s team, while Antony scored a stunning goal in the second half for the visitors. Anthony Martial scored twice in the final minutes of the match to make the scoreline more respectable for United.
Man City were tremendous and could have scored almost twice as many goals as they did. Man United, meanwhile, were awful, with the result conveying how big of a gap there is between the two clubs.
Erik ten Hag contested, after his third league defeat as United boss, that his players lacked “belief” against the league champions.
Related links.
- Why Ed Woodward pulled the plug on Man United’s Erling Haaland move.
- Did Roy Keane’s infamous challenge end Alf-Inge Haaland’s career?
