Roy Keane has savaged Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho and advised nearly each Manchester United participant may depart if any golf equipment need them – however Ruben Amorim defended the Denmark striker after he drew one other clean at Chelsea.
Marc Cucurella’s 71st-minute header proved the one aim of the Premier League sport at Stamford Bridge as United prefaced their Europa League remaining in opposition to Tottenham in Bilbao on Wednesday (20:00 BST) with their 18th league defeat of the season, producing a solitary shot on track.
“Garnacho simply runs by him,” United legend Keane mentioned of Cucurella’s winner, talking to Sky Sports activities. “He doesn’t sort out him, he’s not aggressive.
“They’ve received no striker. (Hojlund) appeared like a younger child for Chelsea who’d simply come out of the academy. His runs weren’t proper, his timing, his hold-up play.
“We hold making excuses for him and speaking about confidence however once you’re a striker up there, you’ve received to make one thing occur generally.”
🗣️”He appeared like he’s simply come out of the Academy”
Roy Keane was not impressed with Rasmus Hojlund vs Chelsea… pic.twitter.com/PKOFwKfuA8
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) Might 16, 2025
Rasmus Hojlund stats: ‘Not ok’
Hojlund joined United for a payment value as much as £72 million from Atalanta in August 2023 however has scored solely 4 occasions in 31 league video games this season, together with a 13-game run with out a top-flight aim lasting greater than three months.
“The massive golf equipment and United have at all times had strikers who can create one thing even after they’re not getting nice service as a result of they’ve received a little bit of high quality, want, willpower, expertise, soccer intelligence,” mentioned Keane, who received the title seven occasions on the membership between 1994 and 2003.
“We don’t see that with Hojlund. He wants just a little little bit of assist however my goodness, generally you’ve received to do a bit higher.
“Hojlund must be a 3rd or fourth-choice striker and be taught his commerce off good strikers. He’s not ok to be the principle man. He’s missing in confidence and perception, and he’s not surrounded by brilliance, both.”
Amorim: Hojlund ‘Enhancing’
United supervisor Ruben Amorim mentioned he was “actually pleased” with Hojlundwho’s a part of a group on a seven-game winless league run.
“All of the group has to enhance however (I like) the best way he runs, fights for each ball and loses a whole lot of duels, wins some duels,” added the Portuguese, who was appointed in November however has accepted he may depart the membership if outcomes don’t enhance quickly.
“He wants to enhance the connection, however he’s enhancing. He simply must proceed to work onerous and higher days will come.”
“It helped me to decide on the beginning XI” 👀
Ruben Amorim on what Man Utd realized from their loss to Chelsea forward of the Europa League remaining 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YDVFkkobqb
— Sky Sports activities Premier League (@SkySportsPL) Might 16, 2025
Man United transfers
Keane struggled to call a United participant who wouldn’t be accessible for the fitting worth this summer season, which is able to precede a Champions League marketing campaign in the event that they win the Europa League.
“Bruno (Fernandes) springs to thoughts as a result of he’s an excellent participant,” mentioned the previous United captain. “There’s speak about Garnacho, you take a look at (Harry) Maguire.
“There’s a giant resolution on the goalkeeper (Andre Onana). You want a world-class striker. But it surely’s who is available in for these gamers.
“Garnacho, Mainoo, Hojlund – I wouldn’t be hanging my hat on these three. Mainoo was strolling across the place, a few of his passes have been sloppy. Garnacho is immature… he doesn’t flip up week in, week out.”
England defender Maguire had a masterful early end dominated out for offside in opposition to Chelsea, assembly Bruno Fernandes’ supply from the left with a thunderous first-time strike contained in the field earlier than his celebrations have been finally deemed futile following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) and semi-automated offside examine.
