Manchester United had no answer for Newcastle United as they were overpowered at St James’ Park.
Sunday afternoon’s trip to Tyneside ended in misery with Manchester United losing 4-1 to Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Ruben Amorim’s side have now failed to win any of their past four matches in all competitions, which won’t help confidence levels heading into Thursday’s crucial Europa League clash against Lyon.
In particular, Amorim will be disappointed at United’s second-half performance with Altay Bayindir failing his audition after Andre Onana was dropped.
Roy Keane slams Man United after 4-1 Newcastle loss
There have been signs of promise in United’s performances recently, but the Red Devils were completely blown away by Newcastle’s intensity and pressing on Sunday afternoon.
After the heavy defeat, United legend Roy Keane slammed the performance and suggested Amorim doesn’t have enough players who are willing to run.
“There aren’t enough players that can run in the team and that want to run. They are not enough of a goal threat either,” Keane said on Sky Sports.
“You’ve got to dig deep, even when you are up against it, and they didn’t do that in the second half.
” We said at half time that the big test was still to come for United. Newcastle are an outstanding side and they have got into a good habit in big games. Man Utd are the opposite.
“Man Utd are physically and mentally a weak team.
Ruben Amorim wants ‘mad dogs’ at Man United
One word United fans will be used to hearing from Amorim is “physicality” – a trait he has emphasised the importance of since his arrival in England.
Amorim wants more physicality in his squad and in his first press conference he said: “We need to be better running back and I think that’s clear for everybody. We have to be clear in the small details.”
Amorim wants players to ‘run like mad dogs’ but they certainly fell well short of that demand against Newcastle.
United were out-ran and out-fought at St James’ Park and that has been an all-too familiar trend in the last few years.
That is not a reflection on Amorim’s tactics, but on a poor group of players.
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