Roy Keane has seriously criticised a Manchester United star after the team lost 1-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, making it 18 losses in the Premier League this season.
Rúben Amorim suffered his 16th defeat as Manchester United manager as the Red Devils were defeated 1-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday evening.
While the focus remains on Wednesday night’s Europa League Final against Tottenham Hotspur, the Premier League campaign has been abysmal, again shown tonight at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea scored the only goal of the game in the 71st minute through a Marc Cucurella header. The Spanish defender found himself free in the penalty area despite United’s five defenders, and he headed home from a Reece James cross.
Harry Maguire thought he gave United the lead in the first half, with a good volley from the edge of the box, but he was found to be offside after a VAR check.
The game appeared to be over in the 81st minute as Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw were withdrawn in preparation for Wednesday’s game, but Ayden Heaven did return from injury after several months out since his injury against Leicester City.
Keane criticises Højlund after poor performance
Speaking to Sky Sports after United’s loss at Stamford Bridge, Manchester United legend Roy Keane let his feelings about Rasmus Højlund be well known, questioning the player’s football intellegence.
“If you’re a striker playing for Man United,” said Keane. “You walk up, you know how to, again, one, even for the whole team, one shot on target.
“We can’t make an excuse for him. We’re talking about confidence, but you still think when you’re a striker up there, you’ve got to, you’ve got to make something happen sometimes.
“And what the big clubs have in United have always had are strikers who can produce something by themselves, even if they’re not getting great service.
“They produce something because they’ve got quality, they’ve got a bit of desire, determination, a bit of experience, football intelligence. We don’t see that with Højlund, so United are up against it all the time, obviously it needs a little bit of support, but my goodness, sometimes you’ve got to just do a bit better.
“I think he’d kind of, he got a ball in the first half on the end of the box, and he didn’t even know a lot, he wasn’t even in the right body position to take a shot, and he knocks it back. He should be getting it on goal.”
Højlund needs support next season
Højlund has played the entire season as United’s starting striker, ahead of Joshua Zirkzee and Chido Obi, despite his poor performances and constant struggles in games.
The Danish striker needs a more experienced centre forward to teach him about the dynamics of playing up front for a club like United, but he hasn’t got anyone who can help him now.
Højlund saw slight improvement during Ruud van Nistelrooy’s time at the club, but since the Dutchman’s departure, he has failed to become a regular goalscorer.
Signing an experienced striker will take the pressure off Højlund, while giving him someone to shadow and learn from, which makes sense for everyone involved.
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