Roy Keane ruthlessly hit out at Ruud van Nistelrooy for his comment following Manchester United’s draw against Chelsea.
Van Nistelrooy led Man United against Chelsea in his first Premier League fixture following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, having taken charge of their Carabao Cup tie against Leicester City last Wednesday.
The interim boss could only manage a point against Enzo Maresca’s side, with Moises Caicedo’s volley cancelling out Bruno Fernandes’ penalty.
After the game, Van Nistelrooy defended the squad amid criticism from fans and critics alike, calling them a ‘good group’ of players.
But Keane took exception to Van Nistelrooy’s post-match comment.
On Sky Sports, he sarcastically said: “Don’t worry about the result. He said they’re great lads? That’s key.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy on the touchline during Manchester United vs. Chelsea. Image: Getty
The Irishman, who won seven league titles during his legendary spell at Old Trafford, also took aim Man United’s ‘boring’ performance against Chelsea.
“They are almost boring,” he said after the result. “They have a lack of conviction in their chances. They were so flat, the fans must be disappointed. They are way off in terms of getting back to that top four and competing.
“I think it is a bit of everything. As a team, you look at certain individuals and maybe we think they are better than they are. They’ve got established internationals. United are average at everything.
“The lack of goals is still hard to believe. You look at the opportunities they are creating and missing – that is why managers lose their jobs. That’s why the goals record is what it is. It’s properly hit and miss, and more likely it is a miss. Manchester United fans must be going away today scratching their heads. It was very quiet today at Old Trafford.”
Van Nistelrooy will oversee two more Man United matches before Ruben Amorim’s arrival.
He will take charge of the Red Devils’ Europa League clash against PAOK then the club’s league fixture against Leicester, with Amorim set to begin his reign against Ipswich Town on November 24.
