Roy Keane criticizes Manchester United midfield after Leeds defeat
Roy Keane has singled out Manchester United's midfield as "non-existent" following the club's historic 2-1 home defeat to Leeds United on Monday night. The Sky Sports pundit's criticism came after a first-half performance that saw United fall to a two-goal deficit, with Leeds securing their first league win at Old Trafford in 45 years. Keane stated the team started too slowly and lacked the necessary energy and quality to control the game.
While Keane did not name individual players, the performance of summer signing Manuel Ugarte has come under intense scrutiny. The Uruguayan midfielder, a £50.7 million acquisition from Paris Saint-Germain in August 2024, was handed a rare start due to an injury to Kobbie Mainoo. According to analysis from outlet UnitedinFocus, Ugarte delivered a performance lacking in progressive passing, duels, and confidence, which they described as sealing his fate at the club. The outlet awarded him a 2/10 rating for his display.
The statistics surrounding Ugarte's time at United are damning. The club has won just one of the ten matches in which the 25-year-old has started this season, highlighting a significant struggle to adapt to the Premier League. His difficulties were emblematic of a broader midfield issue, with Leeds exploiting large pockets of space and effectively executing a 3-5-2 formation to dominate the central areas.
This result represents a significant setback for interim manager Michael Carrick, despite his generally positive record of seven wins from eleven games in charge. The defeat has intensified the spotlight on United's ongoing search for a permanent manager, with Carrick himself reportedly still in contention for the role. The club's midfield deficiencies, a long-standing issue, are expected to be a major focus in the upcoming summer transfer window regardless of who is appointed.
The pressure on Ugarte's future at Old Trafford is now considerable. His high-profile transfer has yet to yield a return on investment, and performances like the one against Leeds will only fuel speculation that United may look to cut their losses. With the club aiming to rebuild and challenge at the top of the table, decisions on underperforming assets like Ugarte will be pivotal in shaping the squad for next season.
