Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane questioned the character of the club’s current first team squad, as they were outplayed by Tottenham for long periods in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford.
Tottenham twice pegged back United to deny Erik ten Hag’s men victory as Jim Ratcliffe attended his first match since agreeing a partial takeover of the club.
The billionaire’s agreement to buy a 25 per cent stake and take control of football operations has brought some hope to a club that has fallen off the top of the English game under owners the Glazers.
But it is a long way back and fans will continue to protest the Americans’ involvement, no matter how diminished, with Ratcliffe getting a first-hand look at the challenge he is taking as Spurs impressed at Old Trafford.
The 71-year-old, who grew up supporting United, sat next to Alex Ferguson in the directors’ box at Old Trafford and only had to wait three minutes to celebrate as summer signing Rasmus Hojlund hammered home.
Richarlison headed in an equaliser from a corner – his sixth goal in as many Premier League matches – but Marcus Rashford smartly put the hosts back ahead in the 40th minute.
Cristian Romero rattled the United crossbar in stoppage time and 49 seconds into the second half Rodrigo Bentancur slammed Spurs level, capitalising on some lax home defending.
Ange Postecoglou’s visitors looked most likely to win it but United avoided a 10th Premier League loss of the season in front of Ratcliffe and his INEOS team.
Keane suggested United would have been satisfied with the draw on a day when Spurs dominated bossed the game, but he was not impressed with the contribution of keeper Andre Onana as Richarlison scored with a headed finish from a corner in the first half.
“United will be satisfied,” he declared. “They’re in a difficult place, their record’s not great, they’ve not been scoring many goals.
“Spurs dominated possession. It’s a different kind of Spurs now. Credit to the manager, they play on the front foot and try to win matches. They’re in the mix for a reason.
“United will be pleased with a draw, but there are big improvements needed from United.
“Set pieces United aren’t great at, they had a warning earlier. It was a lovely touch, plenty of bodies and that close to goal any touch is vital.
“I’d be losing it at my goalkeeper, it’s an in-swinger, Spurs deserved it.
“I don’t like where Onana is standing on his line. I’d like him to come and take control of the six-yard box.”
Prior to kick-off on Sunday, Keane offered a withering verdict on the players who have under-performed under Ten Hag this season, as he served up this verdict to Sky Sports.
“We don’t know the characters or what the feel of this dressing room is,” Keane said in the build-up to the game.
“We look around, we’ve got players here who have won big trophies. They’ve won World Cups.
“I don’t know what the dynamics are like in the dressing room, but you just hope that when they have come to United that they’ve enjoyed the pressure of playing for Man United.
“We’ve been critical of United the last few years, recruitment, the facilities. But we’ve come here early this morning. It’s still a great place to come and play football. It really is.
“I just hope there are enough characters and leadership to get United back to winning ways. It’s a long way back.
“Sometimes there are players that come to Man United, as we’ve seen, and it looks like the pressure of playing for Man United has been a bit too much for them.”
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