Roy Keane Questions Manchester United's Midfield for Title Challenge

Roy Keane doubts Manchester United’s new-look midfield can deliver the title – and he’s even more worried about what sits behind it.

Speaking on Stick to Football, the former United captain accepted that the club have finally built some depth in the middle of the pitch, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo emerging under Michael Carrick and the potential arrival of Baleba adding fresh legs. But when the conversation turned to whether that group is good enough to carry United to the Premier League crown, Keane didn’t hesitate.

“I think that’s a good way of putting it, a good midfield,” he said. “But if you’re on about winning the league, I think it’s short.”

Keane pointed to last season’s attacking output as a reason for optimism. He felt United carried a real threat once Carrick stepped in, praising the side’s ability to hurt teams going forward. Goals are not the problem in his eyes.

“United’s big problems are still going to be defensively,” he warned. “That midfield and going forward, there is a big goal threat at United, they were very good last year with it, especially when Carrick took over they were a real goal threat.”

The praise stopped there. For Keane, the fault line runs straight through the back four.

“The issue is at the back, the full-backs and the two centre-halves are still a big issue,” he said. On paper, he accepts the midfield “jump out as really good players,” but when the bar is set at title-winning standards, his verdict is blunt. “Is there a league-winning midfield there? Probably not. No, I don’t see it.”

One of the headline additions, Youri Tielemans, drew a mixed review. Keane likes the profile of the deal – especially compared to the expensive, high-wage signing of Casemiro – but he doesn’t see the Belgian as a transformative figure.

“Tielemans is a safety bet for United,” Keane said. He praised the club for avoiding another huge financial gamble, noting that Tielemans knows the Premier League, has strong international experience and has already shown he can handle Old Trafford when he visited with Aston Villa.

“Having gone to Old Trafford with Vila and had success he will be fine with the expectation,” Keane continued. “But will he get United to the very top? No.”

United, in his view, have moved from thin to respectable in midfield. The question that hangs over their season is harsher: have they actually moved any closer to being champions while those same defensive cracks remain exposed?