Roy Keane blasts three Man Utd stars after ‘strolling around’ against Chelsea

Roy Keane did not hold back… (Picture: Getty)

Roy Keane delivered a scathing assessment of Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho following the defeat to Chelsea, insisting Manchester United should not be fighting to keep the trio at the club.

United suffered their 18th defeat of the Premier League season at Stamford Bridge on Friday night in what was a thoroughly underwhelming warm-up for next week’s Europa League final against Tottenham.

Ruben Amorim’s side were once again lifeless in the final third with centre-half Harry Maguire looking the most dangerous in front of goal with his first-half effort ruled out for offside.

Hojlund had another underwhelming game littered with poor hold-up play and loose touches.

With their regular striker Nicolas Jackson suspended, Chelsea turned to academy winger Tyrique George to lead the line – with Keane claiming Hojlund was the player who looked fresh out of junior football.

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‘They have got no striker,’ Keane told Sky Sports. ‘Hojlund looked like a young kid for Chelsea, he looked like he had come straight out of the academy.

‘His runs weren’t right, his hold up play, his timing. If you’re a striker playing for Man United and you are having one shot on target… we make excuses for him saying he needs more confidence but when you are a striker up there, you have to make things happen sometimes.

Hojlund, Garnacho and Mainoo celebrated together last season (Picture: Getty Images)

‘What the big clubs have, what United always had, is strikers who can produce something by themselves because they have quality, desire, determination, a bit of experience, football intelligence.

‘You don’t see it with Hojlund. he needs a little bit of support but you need to do better.’

Hojlund, Mainoo and Garnacho shared a memorable celebration at Old Trafford last season but three of United’s brightest stars have struggled throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

Mainoo and Garnacho have both been linked with moves away should the right offers come in this summer.

Hojlund stuggled against Chelsea (Picture: Getty)

And former United skipper Keane insisted his old side should not stand in their way, slamming Mainoo’s performance off the bench in west London.

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Asked if Hojlund, Mainoo and Garnacho were two players United should fight to keep,’ Keane said: ‘No. No I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t be hanging my hat on them three to get United anywhere.

‘Mainoo came on tonight and I watched him closely, he’s strolling around, some of his passing was sloppy.

‘Garnacho is immature, he plays in little moments but he doesn’t do enough.

‘You want players to turn up week in and week out and he doesn’t do that. He a big talent, makes some good runs and on a good day you like what you see. But he’s got too many bad days.’

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