Marsch slams "a******" Keane and details what Rangnick said about Man Utd hell

12 January 2024 , 12:24

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Roy Keane is one of football's most straight-talking pundits (Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Former Leeds United manager Jesse Marsch has declared that Manchester United legend Roy Keane "can be kind of an a******".

Marsch has been out of work since being sacked by Leeds in February last year, having been given the Leeds job in February 2022, replacing the much-loved Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road. He duly got to experience the ins and outs of English football, and he was particularly intrigued by Old Trafford icon Keane, who's revered as a straight-talking, gruff pundit.

Having been given the Leeds job in February 2022, replacing the much-loved Marcelo Bielsa, Marsch got to experience the ins and outs of English football, and he was particularly intrigued by Old Trafford icon Keane, who's revered as a straight-talking, gruff pundit.

"It's always interested me that people love Roy Keane so much and his commentary because I think Roy can be kind of an a******," Marsch, 50, stated on the Up Front With Simon Jordan podcast. "But there is something in English culture about the negative, edgy, cutting, that's the truth.

"It's like he says it like it is. In America, our truth is that we believe we can achieve great things, we believe in ourselves and if people want to knock us down, we want to try more. So when I have positive takes on certain things, that's not my trying to be something different or trying to be American, that's how I feel."

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"It's like he says it like it is. In America, our truth is that we believe we can achieve great things, we believe in ourselves and if people want to knock us down, we want to try more.

"So when I have positive takes on certain things, that's not my trying to be something different or trying to be American, that's how I feel."

Marsch also lifted the lid on mentor Ralf Rangnick's disastrous spell as United's interim manager. Rangnick worked closely with the American during their time together within the Red Bull system which spans both sides of the Atlantic.

There was a brief overlap between the duo during Rangnick's interim run at United. Rangnick endured a nightmare six months with the Red Devils and the plan for him to remain with them on a consultancy basis was scrapped shortly after new manager Erik ten Hag was appointed.

Rangnick, now impressing in charge of Austria, publicly criticised the inner workings at Old Trafford on multiple occasions and Marsch's comments about United echo his ex-colleague's complaints.

Ralf Rangnick mentored Jesse Marsch in the Red Bull system (Getty Images)

Your turn! Should Manchester United have kept Ralf Rangnick? Give us your verdict in the comments section.

"What I heard from Ralf and others that were there at the time is that the cohesion in the club was next to zero," Marsch explained. "Their communication with the scouting departments, the sporting departments and the directors... That made them feel there wasn't much of a future there, and maybe that was the case.

"In any club, especially the best, this idea of the pressure from within for everyone to understand exactly what the identity is, and the commitment to stay disciplined to do that everyday is usually what dictates how good they can be be. From afar and from what I've heard, that has been lost at Man United."

Nathan Ridley