Update: Roy Keane fires back at Bruno Fernandes interview with scathing response to Man United captain News

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes tried to defend his players following the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has fired a strong response at Bruno Fernandes after the captain spoke to the media following the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle in the Premier League.

Following the hammering, in which Fernandes was substituted by Ruben Amorim with one eye on Thursday night, the Portuguese midfielder attempted a rallying cry insisting the focus is on the game with Lyon. He also told Sky Sports: “We are in this position because we have not been consistent in the performances we put out.

“We lack being more fearless, being more brave. Today was not the case because we ended up conceding goals by trying to be brave.

“It’s easy to criticise because this club has never suffered like this, so it’s normal. You have to be aware you play for United and criticism will be there.

“Our fans have been there all season during bad moments, today they were there at the end trying to cheer us up. It is time we give something back.”

He also insisted that he loses his temper with teammates because he knows how good they can be. However, feeling short-changed by the interview, Keane gave a powerful response.

“It is not easy and, to be fair to Bruno, he does front up and the club push him out because he is the best player and captain,” Keane began. “To me, it is just sound bites from him now.

“Let’s hope they win on Thursday by the way – that’s all they are talking about. Lyon are sixth in the French league, I fully expect United to beat Lyon.

“He is talking about players and his belief in them – what about his right-back who didn’t put a foot in (for the second goal)? I hope he is pulling (Diogo) Dalot in the dressing room.

“He keeps talking about his teammates, a real good teammate puts demands on each other. Whether that’s out on the pitch, in the dressing room or on the training ground.

“I listen to Bruno Fernandes, an amazing player but I still have question marks about his leadership. He is talking about the bigger picture, his usual stuff, but he is certainly not getting any help around him.

“When you are playing for Man United, you need a helping hand. But when he is doing the chat about the supporters, to me it’s just… sound bites.

“There is no meaning to it. I don’t know how we can listen to the United players doing interviews anymore because I am not sure they are an honest group.

“When you play for a big club and they have turned up in certain games, but they pick and choose their games Kelly (Cates) – whether it is Man City or Liverpool. The mindset playing for Manchester United should be that every game is a big game.

“So today wasn’t a big game – that’s the attitude of some of them – but Thursday is a big game. I think you are in trouble if you start picking and choosing what is a big game.

“Their whole attitude should be – every game is a big game and you give your all. In the second half, when they were giving the ball away cheaply, not making tackles or making demands of each other… the best players I played with put demands on me. They are not teammates, they are bluffers.

“This group, they have lost 14 games this season, lost 14 games last season – everyone can have a difficult spell so what do we expect when players come out and chat after games? They are media trained and will be told stuff to say.

“They talk about pundits and ex-players, we are here to give an opinion. I would love to sit here and watch Man United and say they are great to watch but I don’t see it with these players and I have seen it too many times now.

“Whatever they are doing at the training ground isn’t enough because we are not seeing it out there. All we heard before the match was about resting players for next Thursday – what about today’s match? Does that mean anything to anybody? What is the point in us turning up here?”

Cates then asked Keane if bringing back players was going to illicit a response from this team ahead of the quarter-final second leg against Lyon to which he replied: “Maybe Casemiro and maybe [Harry] Maguire come in but it is not [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Wayne] Rooney coming back into the team – and I mean Ronaldo and Rooney in their prime.

“That’s the strange bit about it because you think: ‘Who is waiting to come into the team who you think is world class?’ I know there is some experience coming into the team and United at home to Lyon, I expect United to win that game.

“Just to dismiss today’s match, I don’t think is good, that’s my opinion.”