McTominay responds to Keane’s claim Man Utd ‘gave up’ against City and addresses behind-the-scenes problems
SCOTT McTOMINAY has hit back at Roy Keane after the Manchester United legend claimed the club ‘gave up’ against rivals City.
The Red Devils have come under intense criticism following their 4-1 defeat against Pep Guardiola’s men at the Etihad on Sunday.
United‘s loss leaves them in fifth spot as Arsenal leapfrogged them in the table after their 3-2 victory away at Watford.
Speaking after the match, club legend Keane blasted the squad for their shameful performance.
The Sky Sports pundit said: “There was players there and we’re watching it live, and I’m looking at them getting really frustrated watching it.
“I forgive mistakes, but you’ve got to run back. There’s players, five or six players should never play for United again. Just shameful.
“Shameful that you can’t run back and you can’t put your body on the line.”
Before adding: “The old saying men vs boys. They gave up. Shame on them.”
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Keane’s former team-mate Gary Neville also ripped into United as he stated the players weren’t trying as they were ‘walking around the pitch’.
Reacting to the comments that United threw in the towel, McTominay told Sky Sports: “From my point of view on the pitch it’s difficult to see what is going on around you, if that’s what people are saying then so be it.
“They’re all entitled to their own opinion, but for myself personally it’s incredibly disappointing if people think that.
“I’ll have to watch it back and see body language and things like that but, for myself, it hurts.
“If you give a team like that all the time in the world in the second half, you’re going to get punished. It’s as simple as that.”
McTominay then addressed behind-the-scenes problems at United following Cristiano Ronaldo’s omission from Sunday’s matchday squad.
Ralf Rangnick insisted that he missed the match due to injury, but Ronaldo’s sister Katia Aveiro hinter her brother wasn’t injured and was instead dropped by the German gaffer.
As revealed by SunSport, Ronaldo complained of an injury problem and flew to Portugal after being told he would not be starting.
SunSport also understands that United’s squad were left stunned when the ex-Real Madrid ace didn’t show up to The Lowry Hotel to join up with the team on Saturday night.
Meanwhile Neville raged last month about dressing room leaks at Old Trafford.
Commenting on behind-the-scenes issues, McTominay remarked: “I’ve got nothing to say about problems or anything like that.
“It’s not my place to say anything, I am just here to keep everybody together.
“We’ve got a big end to the season, we need to win in the Champions League and we need to get in the top four, and that’s all I’m thinking about at the minute.
“Whatever goes on behind the scenes is completely irrelevant to me. I’m part of it, but you just have to concentrate on your own game, you can get too distracted by other things that are going on at the football club.”
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