Shared spoils leaves United 13th in the league standings with just 12 points from 10 games and already 13 points behind leaders Liverpool in the wake of Erik ten Hag’s start-of-week sacking.
Ruud van Nistelrooy got his first taste of English top-flight action as interim manager against Chelsea and will oversee two more matches before current Sporting Lisbon head coach Ruben Amorim takes charge.
However, former celebrated United captain, Keane, lay bare the huge challenge Amorim faces in turning the club’s fortunes around as he described the current team as ‘average at everything’.
Speaking after Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Chelsea, Keane fumed on Sky Sports: ‘This is an average United team. All the stats back it up. They could have won the game. It’s hit and miss. It’s not good.
‘This United team is almost boring. Really disappointed, so flat. From the manager’s point of view this team is way off getting back into the top four. As a team you look at certain individuals maybe we think they’re better than they are.
‘They’re average at everything. The lack of goals is still hard to believe. That’s why managers lose their jobs. It’s proper hit and miss and more likely it’s going to be a miss,’ he added.
Jamie Redknapp and Frank Lampard echoed similar concerns for United’s future with the Chelsea icon slamming the 13-time Premier League champions as ‘the worst pressing team in the league’.
Meanwhile, Keane’s annoyance at the cliff drop in standards at the club he helped turn into a dominant force continued with his assessment of Fernandes’ leadership skills.
The Portuguese playmaker was previously made captain by Ten Hag at the start of the Dutchman’s second season at the helm but has regularly faced criticism for his on-pitch behaviour and attitude towards referees.
Against Chelsea, Fernandes endured a mixed game as he scored United’s only goal but was also involved in several moments of flaring tempers and Keane slammed the 30-year-old as not captain material.
‘Too little too late. These are always awkward interviews for players. I don’t think Bruno showed leadership. I don’t think he did enough as captain of United,’ said Keane.
‘I don’t think he should be too proud of himself. The players have let the manager down. I’ve played under some great managers. This idea when a player says I feel sorry for the manager, that’s hard to listen to. It’s not even about liking about the manager,’ added Keane.
Keane then further blasted the culture at his former club, continuing: ‘Your own DNA should suggest that you’re a good team player. You roll your sleeves up, you dig in. This United team doesn’t do it. We can’t go back to the United of the ’80s when they’re a cup team.
‘When you look your team-mates in their eye, show what you’re about, you dig deep. I wouldn’t want to be in the trenches with those players. My eyes don’t lie to me. It’s not about liking managers.
‘That’s got to come down to your DNA. A lot of them haven’t got the DNA of a Man United player in my eyes,’ he said.
