Manchester United secured a narrow 2-1 victory against Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round at Old Trafford. Despite the win, the performance left much to be desired, drawing criticism from former player Roy Keane. Leicester took the lead in the 42nd minute with a goal from Bobby De Cordova-Reid, leaving the hosts struggling to make an impact. The match saw Manchester United booed off at half-time due to their lackluster display and inability to register a single shot on target during the first half.
The second half showed a slight improvement for Manchester United as they managed their first shot on target in the 65th minute. However, it was Harry Maguire's injury-time goal that clinched the victory. The goal came under controversial circumstances, as it stood due to VAR not being in operation. Despite the victory, Keane criticized Manchester United's performance, describing them as "a bunch of strangers" and suggesting that they "snatched" the win.
Roy Keane did not hold back his critique of Manchester United's lackluster showing. He pointed out the team's failure to play with energy and urgency, especially in the first half.
"The manager is obviously really frustrated with the performance. He mentioned about having no energy, that's the bit I don't understand," said Keane.
He further emphasized the importance of playing with vigor irrespective of tactics or player confidence.
"Whatever about the tactics and players trying to settle in and lack of confidence but you've got to play with energy," he added.
Keane also highlighted how Leicester City found success against United due to their passive play.
"It's all well and good playing in possession but you have to close people down. Leicester were getting plenty of joy," he noted.
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United's head coach, acknowledged the team's shortcomings. He expressed his dissatisfaction with their performance and stressed the need for improvement both with and without the ball. Amorim noted a lack of energy during the initial stages of the match, particularly in the first half. His observations echoed Keane's concerns about Manchester United's sluggish start.
Manchester United's recent performances have been under scrutiny, having managed only two shots on target in their previous match against Crystal Palace. Keane described the team's overall display as "shocking" and criticized it for not aligning with his vision of football or what Manchester United should represent.
"Any team with a bit more quality than Leicester would have won the match," Keane remarked, underlining his dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs at Old Trafford.
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