Roy Keane branded Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United ‘physically and mentally weak’ after the side slumped to a dismal 4-1 defeat by the hands of Newcastle.
Alejandro Garnacho dragged the Red Devils back into the competition with a cool finish within the thirty seventh minute, cancelling out Sandro Tonali’s opener together with his first goal in three Premier League games.
But hosts Newcastle responded emphatically within the second half, with Harvey Barnes completing a 15-minute brace and Bruno Guimaraes capitalising on an Altay Bayindır howler in a powerful victory at St James’ Park.
It means United at the moment are with out a win of their last 4 matches in all competitions and the result leaves Amorim’s men stuck down in 14th place within the English top flight, just 17 points above the drop zone.
The humbling loss confirms that United will finish with their lowest ever Premier League points tally, even in the event that they win each game from now until the top of the season.
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‘Not adequate. That’s 14 league games they’ve lost now,’ former United captain Keane said on Sky Sports shortly after the ultimate whistle.
‘They keep making excuses for this team. There’s not enough players who can run on this team, I don’t think there are players who wish to run, nothing by means of a goal threat.
‘You’ve got to dig deep even while you’re up against it and so they didn’t try this within the second half.
‘We spoke at half-time, the large test was to are available in the second half. Take a look at Newcastle, Newcastle were outstanding, they’re used to winning big games, they’ve got in a extremely good habit.
‘United are the alternative. I feel United now are physically and mentally a weak team.’
Keane argued that the Magpies – who were without their manager Eddie Howe – outperformed United in practically every department and were greater than deserving of all three points.
He added: ‘Newcastle were too fast, too powerful, they were more determined. The pace up front, United couldn’t take care of their attacking players and so they got what they deserved.
‘Well done Newcastle, they were outstanding.’
Keane said he had seen nothing from Amorim’s United to offer any indication that good times might be across the corner.
‘This talk before the sport about good signs for this United team, signs they’re convalescing,’ he continued.
‘Well, I can’t see it. I just saw one other poor performance, particularly on this second half. Not adequate.
‘I worry for this group of players. To me, they don’t appear to be a robust group mentally.’
In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, a defiant Amorim insisted he ‘didn’t care’ in regards to the criticism he and his players would face within the wake of such a limp performance.
‘I understand but I don’t care. Nothing is worse than losing games,’ the United head coach said.
‘People can say whatever they wish to say. I don’t wish to defend myself or anything like that.
‘When you have a look at our position within the table, it says all of it. Thursday is admittedly essential. Losing games is the toughest part by far of this job. Let’s concentrate on Thursday [against Lyon].’
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