Roy Keane insisted that anyone who believes Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay and Fred are capable of leading Manchester United to win titles are living in "cuckoo land".
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has generally favoured a midfield trio of McTominay, Fred and Bruno Fernandes since United were beaten 6-1 by Tottenham Hotspur.
Paul Pogba and Matic haven't started in the Premier League since that game, with Solskjaer favouring the defensive stability provided by Fred and McTominay as a pair, after the duo performed well together when Pogba was injured last season.
While Keane doesn't believe Pogba has done enough to command a regular starting berth, he is concerned that alternative options, such as Matic, McTominay and Fred, aren't good enough to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table.
“There’s nothing wrong with Man United winning a game 3-1, or 3-2, you’ve got to get on the front-foot," he told Sky Sports.
"Last year, Chelsea scored more goals than them, Leicester scored more goals than them. People talk about Fred and McTominay in midfield, they’ve had their chance, we’ve seen them.
"I don’t think they’re bad players, but they won’t get United back to winning league titles. Tim [Cahill, fellow pundit on Sky] makes a point there about Man United having great players, I don’t see it, I don’t see the great players.
"They have some very good players, but they need to show a bit more. Van de Beek has come into the club, and there’s nothing wrong with biding your time, but if you think Fred, McTominay and Matic in midfield will get Man United back to the heights of winning titles, then you’re living in cuckoo land.
"They won’t, I think they’re good players - I like them - but not to the next level, and that’s surely what United are looking for.”
.png?w=600)
