Keane demands improvement

Smiles will be in short supply at Manchester United today following Roy Keane’s devastating attack on his Old Trafford team-mates.

In the wake of Saturday’s humiliating defeat at Norwich, the Red Devils’ skipper has shattered the cosy dressing room atmosphere with an assault of such withering proportions, few will wish to look the Corkman in the eye.

And if Alex Ferguson, who has so far remained silent on the Carrow Road debacle, shares the opinion of his loyal captain, there are some United careers destined for an abrupt end this summer.

“We have talented players at this club, that is obvious, but talent without work rate and pride is a waste of time,” Keane told MUTV.

“How many chances should a player get? The manager provides everything for the players. Everything they want, they get. All they have to do is come into training every single day with the attitude of trying to help the team improve.

“It is not about individuals. You can have the most talented players in the world but if you do not play as a team, I guarantee you will win absolutely nothing.

“People are sick of excuses now. Results don’t lie and the table doesn’t lie. Our performance levels have not been good enough.

“Everyone at this club needs to look at themselves and ask whether they are giving 100% to the football club. I am not sure all the players can say they are. That is a crime in itself.”

Even for a man as forthright at Keane, the depth of the condemnation is staggering and raises major questions about the men earmarked to succeed the 33-year-old and carry United to glory in future years.

For all the medals and glory, Keane’s insatiable drive and hunger – and also that of fellow long-serving Red Devils Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville - is often looked upon with amazement by friend and foe alike.

One of the most handsomely rewarded of today’s well-paid stars, Keane has always accepted the sense of responsibility that comes with the vast pay cheque, something he clearly does not believe is a feeling that spreads across the Old Trafford dressing room.

“Every player should be fighting for their place at this club,” he said. “Going back over the years, when we have been at the top of our game, players never took their places in the team or position at the club for granted. That is what made them really good players and what made us an outstanding team.

“It is all right having a laugh in the dressing room but maybe there has been too much laughter. You can go too far the other way. What matters is what happens on the pitch.”

Despite suffering just two defeats all season prior to the Carrow Road embarrassment, Ferguson identified a looming problem immediately after the 1-0 win over Fulham on March 19, complaining bitterly about a lack of effectiveness in front of goal.

Those words appeared to fall on deaf ears for two weeks later, the Red Devils were held to a goalless draw by Blackburn at Old Trafford which effectively killed off any lingering title hopes.

The disappointment at that setback was nothing compared to last weekend’s shambles, which, following a second-successive early European exit and the prospect of two third-place finishes on the trot, left fans to openly question the club’s short-term future.

Keane refuses to use Ferguson’s persistence with a single striker, cited by United old boys Paddy Crerand and Lou Macari as a major cause for their present problems, as mitigation, claiming ’good players can adapt to any system’.

And neither does he give any credence to the belief United can obliterate the memories of Norwich by beating Newcastle on Sunday to claim an FA Cup final berth.

“We should go into Sunday’s game looking to win it, but we should do that in every game,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter whether it is Newcastle, Norwich, Arsenal or AC Milan, you treat every game the same, prepare as well as you can and give 100%. If you think it is going to be easy, you are going to get beaten.”