James DudkoFeatured ColumnistMarch 1, 2017 <\/p>\n
Roy Keane has challenged Manchester United to win some big games on manager Jose Mourinho's watch after insisting his old club have \"beaten no one in three months.\" <\/p>\n
The former United skipper was speaking at a fundraiser ahead of the Red Devils' 3-2 win over Southampton in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, per Ciaran Kelly of the Manchester Evening News. <\/p>\n
However, Keane said neither United nor Mourinho has impressed him despite the club enjoying a strong run of form across all competitions: <\/p>\n
I've very little time for Mourinho. I look at United and the run they are on now. They're sixth in the league. People are like 'I can see progress'[but] they're sixth in the league. They've beaten no one in three months. <\/p>\n
Keane's last point on the quality of opponents United have been beating is an important one. It's significant not in undermining the Red Devils' current form, but maybe in determining how well their season will ultimately finish. <\/p>\n
United are just two points shy of the Champions League places, the most realistic target for Mourinho's men in the Premier League. Yet securing a top-four finish will demand they beat some strong sides, including leaders Chelsea. <\/p>\n
Keane insists his old side must be judged by how they perform in the marquee fixtures: \"I judge United on the big games. Chelsea and one or two others are coming up now. If you want to play for United and be successful they are the games you have to be winning.\" <\/p>\n
United will host the Blues in the league on April 16, but only after facing Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final at Stamford Bridge on March 13. <\/p>\n
The rest of the league program will see United travel to Arsenal in May before facing Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The Red Devils also still need to play a derby at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, a fixture rearranged due to the former's League Cup commitments. <\/p>\n
Normally, a run of big games shouldn't intimidate a team coached by Mourinho, a manager who has made much of his reputation by engineering results in headline fixtures. <\/p>\n
However, to Keane's point, United have surprisingly struggled in big games this season. They lost 2-1 to City at Old Trafford in September and could only manage draws at home against Arsenal and bitter rivals Liverpool. <\/p>\n
Mourinho and United were also humiliated 4-0 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October. <\/p>\n
Without better results in these types of fixtures, United won't secure Champions League football for next season. If they don't, it will be tough to argue with Keane's view of United's first campaign under Mourinho. <\/p>\n
However, not everybody shares Keane's view about a team that has been beaten just once in 26 gamesincluding the Southampton winin all competitions. Among them, Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News previously lavished praise on how United have been clicking into gear lately: <\/p>\n
In fairness to Mourinho, he's helped cultivate a greater fluency in attack compared to last season. Signings such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have galvanised the men from Old Trafford in the final third. <\/p>\n
United are also displaying a growing stingy streak in defence, even though Saints did cause Mourinho's back four a host of problems at Wembley. <\/p>\n
There are plenty of positives on the pitch, but ultimately, true progress will only be quantified by beating the best and returning to Europe's top table. <\/p>\n
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Read more:<\/p>\n
Roy Keane Criticises Manchester United's Lack of Progress Under Jose Mourinho - Bleacher Report<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" James DudkoFeatured ColumnistMarch 1, 2017 Roy Keane has challenged Manchester United to win some big games on manager Jose Mourinho's watch after insisting his old club have \"beaten no one in three months.\" The former United skipper was speaking at a fundraiser ahead of the Red Devils' 3-2 win over Southampton in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, per Ciaran Kelly of the Manchester Evening News. Continue reading