It’s hard to know where to begin with this Manchester United side anymore. Just when fans think they’ve seen rock bottom, they go and deliver another shambolic performance — this time in a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park.
And Roy Keane, never one to sugar-coat the truth, hit the nail right on the head: this team is mentally and physically weak.
Keane was fuming on Sky Sports after watching his old club crumble yet again. “That’s 14 league defeats now,” he said. “We keep making excuses for this team, but they’re not good enough. They don’t run, they don’t fight, they don’t dig in when things get tough. It’s not acceptable.”
He’s spot on. United started okay, with Alejandro Garnacho grabbing an equaliser after Sandro Tonali’s opener. But once again, the second half was a disaster. Harvey Barnes tore through the defence twice, Bruno Guimarães added a late fourth, and the players just looked like they gave up. No urgency, no leadership — no pride.
Fans have seen this movie far too many times this season. A couple of promising signs followed by a complete collapse. And while new boss Ruben Amorim is still finding his feet, even he must be wondering what on earth he’s walked into.
Keane didn’t hold back. “Newcastle were quicker, stronger, more determined. Their front line was unplayable, and United just couldn’t cope. We’ve been saying they’re improving, but I’m not seeing it. This was another poor, gutless performance.”
He’s not wrong. There was no fight in the second half. No one taking responsibility. You look around and wonder who’s going to step up — and the answer is no one. That’s a damning indictment of where this club is right now.
Amorim tried to stay focused on the Europa League second leg in his post-match interview, brushing off the criticism with a “I don’t care” when asked about the noise. But honestly, how long can you ignore what’s going on in the league?
As Keane rightly pointed out, it’s not just about losing — it’s how you lose. “These players don’t look mentally strong,” he said. “Amorim won’t say it publicly, but he must be shocked by how bad some of these performances are. Some of these lads are simply not up to the standard.”
And that’s the harsh truth fans have been trying to accept all season. The club has thrown big money at average players, and now they’re stuck with a squad that looks completely lost.
Sure, some players are still new to the Premier League. Sure, Amorim is adjusting. But excuses only go so far. This is Manchester United. This club has standards. And right now, they’re nowhere close to meeting them.
Keane summed it up perfectly: “Is this group good enough for United? Absolutely not. Some of them are good players, sure — but not for this level, not for this club.”
There’s no hiding from it now. The summer has to be massive. Amorim needs to be backed with smart recruitment — not more overpriced gambles, but players who want to wear the shirt, who’ll run, scrap, and fight when the going gets tough.
Until then, all fans can do is hope. Hope the Europa League isn’t another letdown. Hope there’s some pride left in the dressing room. Hope that someone, anyone, can light a fire under this team before the season fades into another forgettable disaster.
Because if things carry on like this, Roy Keane won’t be the only one calling this the weakest United team in decades.