Roy Keane has hit out at Tyrell Malacia after he produced a bizarre piece of defending in the first-half of Manchester United's 3-1 win over Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday evening.
A brace from Casemiro and Fred's well-taken strike earned the Red Devils' passage into the fifth round of the competition. But the outcome could've been a whole lot different if Junior Hoilett had scored in the opening 45 minutes following a near-costly mistake from Malacia.
The Dutchman wanted to control the ball after a cross inside the area, only for Hoilett to pinch it off him and get a shot off. Luckily for Malacia, David de Gea bailed him out by making a smart stop with his legs. It was an excellent chance for the visitors, who couldn't believe their luck, but the Royals were made to pay thanks to a 15-minute blitz from United.
In a blast at Malacia, Keane told ITV: "What are these defenders thinking? Honestly, it drives me mad. As if he's surprised somebody's next to him! Switch on! Be aware of what’s next to you on the football pitch. It drives me crazy."
This wasn't the only time Keane went on a rant during ITV's coverage of the Red Devils' comfortable win over Reading. He decided to slam the idea that it is harder to break down teams in a low block and admitted it was a game United should've won more comfortably.
He added: "I think that [the idea it’s harder to break down teams in a low block] is rubbish, if you’re Man United and you’re playing at home against Reading who obviously are going to sit in, the reason you’re playing for Man United is that you can deal with that.
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"You can play through them. Reading might want Man United to play wide, but you’ve got to get at them through the middle. Pass it quicker, we see there’s opportunities there with the spaces. Man United, they’ve mixed it up not bad, but in terms of getting at them for all the possession they’ve had only two shots on target.
"Players have taken the easy way out, not sharp enough with their forward passing, not passing it in front of teammates. We see them making runs, but there’s no good having this quality if you don’t show it. Pass it quicker, pass in front of your teammates - there’s a reason you’re playing for Man United. There’s a reason Reading are sitting in, because they’re frightened to death. Get after them!"
The fifth-round draw for the FA Cup will take place on BBC One at 7pm.
