Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has slammed one Manchester United star for not doing “enough” for Rogers’ goals.
Manchester United looked competitive on Sunday evening, despite facing the most in-form team in the Premier League in Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
Across the 90 minutes, Rúben Amorim’s side largely looked the better, but two moments of individual brilliance from Morgan Rogers handed Villa all three points.
The first, a great ball from right to left controlled by the England international – Leny Yoro chose not to chase him as the ball looked close to leaving the pitch, but Rogers just kept it in play. Rogers then cut inside and shifted the ball past the Frenchman before curling a ball into the upper echelons of the top right corner.
While the second wasn’t as spectacular, Senne Lammens was once again left merely a spectator as Rogers fired home with another curled effort into the top right. Diogo Dalot failed to block the original cross on the left flank, and the ball eventually spilt to Rogers.
Keane calls out Dalot for poor showing
Dalot, who took the captain’s armband when Bruno Fernandes left the pitch, struggled against Villa, despite switching back to his more natural position from left-wing-back.
When asked about the United full-back, Roy Keane told Sky Sports: “You can have all the talent in the world, we mention it time and time again, but you’ve got to roll your sleeves up, and when the game gets a bit tight, or there’s moments you go, ‘I’m just going to do my bit for the team’.
“There’s too many players, like Dalot, who just don’t do enough. I won’t use the word cheating, but they’re just not doing enough. And after the game, I’d be looking at him, I wouldn’t be looking at the other bits of the game, I’d say, ‘Are you going to stop it?’ Same for the first goal.”
Keane continued to say: “When Rogers gets the ball wide in the first goal, we’re all sitting there, do you know there’s danger? Do they not know there’s danger?”
Dalot has looked a level below the player that stood out for Erik ten Hag in years gone by, but his performance against Villa directly cost United one point from Sunday’s game.
Defensive issues could be solved soon
While United’s defence has been below par for the majority of the season, losing Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire is a huge blow. Ayden Heaven has impressed in their absence, but it’s not just the back three that must improve.
Read More: What Bruno Fernandes did at full-time vs Aston Villa speaks volumes amid Man Utd injury concerns
Manuel Ugarte’s performance in defensive midfield was so poor that United fans are now calling for him to be replaced in the pecking order by Lisandro Martínez – a natural central defender.
Casemiro has improved this season, but a new defensive midfielder has to be at the top of the transfer wishlist going into the transfer window.
A competent defensive midfielder would stop opposition counterattacks and help United’s poor defensive record.
Another central defender should also be on the list, but it is likely behind a new midfielder and Antoine Semenyo, who appears to be available for £65 million at the start of January.
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