OLD TRAFFORD LEGEND Roy Keane says Manchester United supporters need to be patient with new boss David Moyes.
The champions have a record low points total for this stage of a Premier League season and have suffered humbling defeats to rivals Liverpool and Man City in recent weeks.
But former skipper Keane insists the increasingly-angry fans need to support the new boss as he tries to overhaul Alex Ferguson’s side.
“There’s not been a lack of effort,” Keane told an audience at the launch of Cork City FC’s Patronage Scheme at UCC last night.
“I’ve seen the last few games now and they’re certainly trying. They’ve probably lost a bit of confidence now. They’re human beings and they’re up against it. It’s tough going but hopefully they can turn it around. It’s certainly not going to get any easier, there’s more pain to come – Bayern Munich next Tuesday but the players have got to try to sort it out.
“We’ve been saying for years what great support Man Utd have got and we need to see that over the next few months. It’s very, very easy to support a winning team but they need to support a team that’s struggling. But hopefully they get to the summer, get one or two players in and be ready for next year.
“In defence of David Moyes, I bet he can’t believe how tough it’s been and then you need the bit of luck.
“I know he’s on a six-year deal but six-year contracts can mean very little — I know — although I don’t think United will panic. Hopefully he’ll get a bit of time because anyone who has got any idea about football will know this was the biggest job to follow Alex Ferguson.
“Clever people were saying you want to follow the manager after Alex Ferguson. So give the man time, he’s only been in the job two minutes.
United face European champions Bayern Munich next week and Pep Guardiola’s side are heavily fancied to add to United’s recent woes.
“Bayern have been doing what United were doing for years and like Liverpool in the 80s; they’ve strengthened when they’re in a strong position. The players they’ve bought, like Lewandowski for next season sends messages all the time. Manchester United haven’t done that over the last 18 months and it’s caught up with them. If United perform like they did against Man City and Liverpool, forget about beating West Ham, Olympiakos and Crystal Palace, that’s not what playing for Manchester United is about, it’s about doing it against the big teams. That’s what engages you as a player.
“And if they play against Bayern like they have in the last two weeks then they’ll be in massive, massive trouble. Bayern are the kind of team that are ruthless, no doubt about it. I don’t think they’ll settle for a 1-0 victory.”
He said: “They don’t have those type of players in the group. David Moyes has vast experience, he has staff and a couple of senior players like Rio and Giggsy and they have to step up to the plate.
“One or two of the new players are getting criticism but it’s up to the players who have been there a few years and who know what United are about.
“You have to have passion. There is no problem losing games, you can lose in a good way, but the way United have lost a couple of these games was probably more upsetting than anything else.”
“People talk about great days but we had tough days, we ground out results. We survived a few times and got some lucky breaks and in sport you need some breaks.
“When we won the league, at Newcastle we could have been 5-0 nil down at half-time yet we ended up winning with Eric [Cantona] nicking a goal. You need defining moments.
“And his team won’t find that because they don’t have it in the group. They need to get certain players in and certain characters to make sure they battle for every minutes of every game.”
