Man Utd Playing Better Without Ronaldo, Pogba, Others - Roy Keane

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has admitted that the current crop of players at Old Trafford are much better off on the pitch with fringe players out of the squad.  

Keane labelled the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani as "energy sappers."

His assessment of Erik ten Hag's men comes on the back of the Red Devils triumph over Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesdsay.

Manchester United defeated Forest 5-0 on aggregate to set up a Carabao Cup final clash with Newcastle.

Speaking on Sky Sports Football after the game, the former United captain said: "When the new manager came in, Man Utd were rock bottom.

"But what was the key was the five or six players who left.

"I'm not knocking all these players but they were experienced - Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Nemanja Matic, Jesse Lingard - lads who were around and kind of knew they were leaving, their contracts were up.

"That wasn't helping whereas there definitely feels like there's a new energy, the manager has obviously put a few markers on since the start of the season.

"That momentum, the feel-good energy is back at the club, you feel the energy levels are slightly different."

Continuing, Keane added: "[Cristiano] Ronaldo has been moved on, but also the other five or six players who left. These were big players like [Edinson] Cavani.

"They were fringe players coming off the bench and when they did come on, they weren't bringing much to the party, they felt they should have been starting.

"They've got to come on and be ready, whereas the fringe last year who weren't involved, you felt they were energy sappers.

"Last year, there was the caretaker manager in the second half of the season.

"There was that doubt hanging over. When the manager doesn't have that power, the players see through it.

"That's why the players took the mick out of him and the club's situation.

"The players took advantage of that and there was no hiding place."