Manchester United’s turbulent season took yet another frustrating twist as they failed to hold onto a narrow lead against relegation-threatened West Ham — and Roy Keane was in no mood to hide his disgust.

Under the lights at Old Trafford, United looked poised to take a valuable three points after Diogo Dalot fired them in front midway through the second half. The atmosphere briefly shifted toward optimism. But, just like so many times in recent memory, that hope dissolved into groans by the final whistle.

With only seven minutes left of regulation time, West Ham midfielder Soungoutou Magassa pounced on a loose ball inside the United box and drove home the equalizer — a goal that sent the away bench into chaos and ignited anger among the home support.

As boos echoed around Old Trafford, Keane — who lifted seven Premier League titles in his playing days — delivered yet another brutally honest assessment of the club he once captained.

“Every time I watch Manchester United,” he vented on Sky Sports,
“they disappoint me.”

Keane was particularly outraged by the team’s mentality after taking the lead.

“They’re at home, against a team in the bottom three, and they take their foot off the gas,” he said. “You go 1-0 up — that’s when the best teams push to finish it. But United always seem to panic. They weren’t clinical. They weren’t ruthless. And West Ham deserved their goal because United let them hang around.”

A victory would have propelled United into the top five. Instead, they remain eighth — stuck in the middle of the table and stuck, according to Keane, in the same damaging habits.

“In their last few matches, it’s been desperate stuff,” he continued. “Just poor decision-making. Poor intensity. It’s like they’re afraid to win games.”

United have now failed to keep a clean sheet in seven straight fixtures, and their inability to control games after scoring has become a defining flaw.

Special criticism was saved for the lack of leadership on the pitch.

“Where are the standards?” Keane barked.
“Standards used to be everything here — now everyone gets applause for the bare minimum.”

His words stung — because they felt true. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the club’s identity was built on hunger, aggression, and a relentless desire to finish opponents. Keane sees none of that now.

Dalot, who scored his first Premier League goal in over a year, owned up to the team’s failings.

“We get anxious,” he admitted. “We stop playing our football. We worked so hard to get the goal, and when it came, we didn’t maintain control. It’s on us.”

The Portuguese defender’s honesty spoke volumes: the team is fragile, mentally and tactically.

Keane wasn’t alone. Gary Neville — another legend who knows what winning looks like at Old Trafford — expressed similar frustration.

“They let the game drift,” Neville said. “You can’t play with that little urgency when you’re Manchester United. Everyone here knows that one point tonight isn’t good enough.”

Both pundits also pointed toward United’s upcoming trip to Wolves — a side sitting rock-bottom — with little confidence. Once, such a fixture would have been considered routine. Today, nothing feels routine for United.

Keane summed up his confusion bluntly:

“What are they scared of?
West Ham? Pressure? Expectations?
If they can’t handle this, what business do they have playing for Manchester United?”

His exasperation highlights a worrying truth — United seem afraid of their own responsibility.

United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the collapse, but insisted improvement will come.

“We had the game in our hands,” Amorim said. “But we lost control after scoring. The first goal should have given us confidence to keep pushing.”

He also emphasized that his squad must sharpen their reactions to second balls and set-piece situations — both of which contributed to West Ham’s late strike.

“Every game is important,” he insisted. “Now we must win the next one.”

For fans, however, words feel empty without results.

United have spent the past decade trying to rebuild — new managers, new executives, new transfers — yet the same old weaknesses continue to haunt them. The expectations remain sky-high, the performances remain inconsistent, and the fan base remains restless.

At the final whistle, the frustration inside the stadium was palpable. Not anger at a one-off mistake — but a collective sense of déjà vu.

The uncomfortable reality?

Manchester United are no longer feared.

Not by relegation sides.
Not by pundits.
Not even by their own supporters.

Roy Keane’s verdict may be harsh — but right now, it feels painfully accurate:

“Same old problems.”
“Same lack of killer instinct.”
“Same disappointment.”

Until those truths are addressed, this will continue to be the story of Manchester United: flashes of hope, followed by familiar heartbreak.