Roy Keane takes aim at Bruno Fernandes after Man Utd captain's apology to Erik ten Hag
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane was less than complimentary about the current holder of the club's armband as he apologised to Erik ten Hag, who was sacked last Monday
by Mark Jones · The MirrorRoy Keane claims Bruno Fernandes' apology to sacked Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was a case of "too little, too late" after the Dutchman lost his job.
Ten Hag was sacked last Monday during his third season at Old Trafford, with United picking up the FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his reign but coming no closer to rejoining the true elite of the game.
Ruben Amorim has been announced as Ten Hag's replacement and will take over from next Monday, with Ten Hag's former assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy overseeing his second game in interim charge in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Old Trafford.
After the match Fernandes, who scored United's goal from the penalty spot, was interviewed by Sky Sports, and took the opportunity to say sorry to Ten Hag. “When you see a manager go you have to look at the mirror first," he said. "I spoke with Erik ten Hag and I told him I apologise and I feel disappointed I couldn’t do more for him. We should've done better.
“I wasn’t scoring goals and I felt responsibility as I’m normally a player with a lot of goals and assists. The main thing is he’s aware of that. Every week is challenging, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose. It’s a different week because we know Erik is gone.
"It’s not good for anyone at the club when a manager goes because it means that the positions where the team is is not the best, the results are not the best. We are all disappointed by that, you always have to take a little bit of the blame on yourself."
However when the Sky Sports cameras cut back to Keane in the studio, the former United captain wasn't accepting of the apology. “These are always awkward interviews for players but I wouldn’t have much time and patience for the player to say, ‘listen, sorry, we let you down’. Too little, too late,” Keane said.
“We’ll judge what you’re doing on the football pitch. I don’t think Bruno has done enough in a lot of the games already. He didn’t show that leadership. So it would be interesting to hear what Ten Hag has to say about it. But you also have to move on.
“A lot of players don’t care that much when a manager goes. They just focus on the next manager and get ready, look after themselves. Players can be selfish, we know that, but I don’t think Bruno done enough as a captain of Man United over the last year or two to help the manager out. Far from it.
“The proof’s there with all the results. It’s not just on Bruno, of course, but I don’t think he showed enough leadership skills when the going’s got tough with some of the performances. I don’t think Bruno should be too proud of himself, of what’s happened to the manager of the last week or two. I think the players let the manager down ultimately.”
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