‘Be angry at the performance!’ – Roy Keane slams Michael Carrick & Man Utd for moaning about Lisandro Martinez hair-pull red card against Leeds

‘Be angry at the performance!’ – Roy Keane slams Michael Carrick & Man Utd for moaning about Lisandro Martinez hair-pull red card against Leeds

Roy Keane has never been one to sugar-coat his opinions, and once again the former Manchester United captain has delivered a brutally honest assessment of his old club’s latest setback. Following United’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds United, Keane turned his attention not just to the result, but to the reaction that followed from interim boss Michael Carrick.

The flashpoint, of course, was Lisandro Martinez’s red card after a VAR review for violent conduct — a decision Carrick strongly criticised after the match. But for Keane, the issue wasn’t the referee’s call. It was what came before it.

And in typical Keane fashion, he didn’t hold back.

‘Be angry at the performance!’ – Roy Keane slams Michael Carrick & Man Utd for moaning about Lisandro Martinez hair-pull red card against Leeds

The debate began after Manchester United’s disappointing home defeat to Leeds, a match that quickly spiralled out of control for Carrick’s side. The red card shown to Lisandro Martinez dominated post-match discussion, with the United manager describing the decision as one of the worst he had ever seen.

But Keane believes that focus is misplaced.

Speaking on The Overlap, the former midfielder argued that the conversation around refereeing decisions is being used to avoid a more uncomfortable truth — United’s performance simply wasn’t good enough.

“You should be angry with the performance,” Keane said. “It’s like a distraction, the sending off.”

For Keane, the problem wasn’t the VAR decision itself, but the timing of United’s complaints. By the time Martinez was dismissed, United were already trailing 2-0, and in his view, that tells the real story of the match.

“You were 2-0 down at the time,” he added. “Be angry with the first half where you turn up for a game so slowly.”

It was a familiar theme from Keane — frustration with inconsistency, lack of urgency, and what he sees as a soft mentality when things go against the team.

Carrick’s frustration after controversial red card

Michael Carrick, meanwhile, was far from impressed with the officiating decisions that shaped the game.

The interim manager pointed to several incidents, including what he felt was an early foul on Leny Yoro in the build-up to Leeds’ opening goal. According to Carrick, the challenge — involving an alleged forearm to the back of Yoro’s head — should have been reviewed more seriously.

But the biggest talking point remained Martinez’s dismissal, which came after VAR intervention for violent conduct.

Carrick did not hide his anger.

He described the decision as “another shocking, shocking call,” and suggested that recent matches have seen a pattern of inconsistent officiating going against his side.

Two games in a row, he argued, United had been on the wrong end of major decisions — and in this case, he felt the referee had gone too far.

For Carrick, the frustration was not just about the red card itself, but about the wider sense that key moments were repeatedly not going in United’s favour.

Still, that perspective didn’t sit well with Keane.

‘Be angry at the performance!’ – Roy Keane slams Michael Carrick & Man Utd for moaning about Lisandro Martinez hair-pull red card against Leeds

Keane’s response was not just about disagreeing — it was about priorities.

In his view, Manchester United’s problems run deeper than individual refereeing decisions. He believes the real issue lies in mentality, preparation, and responsibility.

Rather than focusing on external factors, Keane insisted the players should be held accountable for the slow start and lack of intensity.

He also made it clear that blaming officials can become a convenient shield when performances fall short.

“It’s like a distraction,” he repeated, reinforcing the idea that refereeing complaints can sometimes mask deeper issues within a team.

Importantly, Keane did acknowledge that the “violent conduct” label attached to Martinez’s foul may have felt harsh. But he also pointed out that, given recent Premier League standards and VAR interpretations, the decision was not entirely surprising.

In other words, it might be debatable — but it wasn’t the reason United lost.

Pressure builds on Michael Carrick amid managerial uncertainty

This latest criticism adds another layer of scrutiny on Michael Carrick, who continues to operate in a high-pressure environment at Old Trafford.

Since stepping in following Ruben Amorim’s departure in January, Carrick has overseen a mixed run of results. While his win percentage remains respectable, questions continue to linger over whether he is the right long-term solution.

Keane, in particular, has been consistently vocal about his doubts.

He has previously suggested that while Carrick understands the club and the environment, the demands of managing Manchester United — especially in terms of squad control, mentality, and recruitment decisions — require a different level of authority.

And with every setback, those questions grow louder.

Dressing room responsibility under the spotlight

Beyond the manager, Keane also turned his attention to the players themselves.

In his view, Manchester United’s squad must take greater ownership of performances, particularly in high-pressure matches where small margins decide outcomes.

He argued that senior players need to set the tone on the pitch, ensuring standards do not drop when games become difficult.

For Keane, leadership is not about reacting after the fact — it is about controlling moments before they spiral.

“Get a grip,” was the essence of his message to the dressing room, reflecting his belief that too many players are currently reacting rather than leading.

Carrick defends performance despite defeat

Despite the criticism, Carrick stood by his team’s effort in difficult circumstances.

He admitted that United did not start well and acknowledged that Leeds deserved credit for capitalising early. However, he also pointed to moments in the game where he felt his side were hard done by.

The sending-off, in particular, overshadowed what he believed was a second-half response full of effort and resilience.

But in the end, the damage had already been done.

United left themselves too much to do after a poor opening spell, and even with improved intensity later in the match, they could not recover fully from the early setback.

A defining trip ahead to Stamford Bridge

The timing of this defeat could hardly be worse for Manchester United.

The race for Champions League qualification is finely balanced, with United sitting third but now level on points with Aston Villa. Every remaining fixture carries significant weight, and momentum is becoming increasingly important.

Next up is a daunting trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea.

Carrick will be forced into changes, with Lisandro Martinez suspended and Harry Maguire also unavailable. That leaves United short of defensive experience at a crucial stage of the season.

The match is already being viewed as potentially defining — not just for United’s top-four hopes, but for Carrick’s own prospects of securing the job on a permanent basis.

A positive result could strengthen his case. Another setback, however, would only intensify scrutiny.

Final thoughts: performance or referees?

At the heart of the debate between Keane and Carrick lies a familiar football question: where does responsibility lie when things go wrong?

For Carrick, the focus is on key incidents that shaped the match. For Keane, it is about the broader picture — preparation, mentality, and performance levels.

Both perspectives reflect different sides of modern football analysis.

But Keane’s message is clear and uncompromising: before pointing fingers elsewhere, look at what happened on the pitch first.

Because in his eyes, that’s where games are truly won and lost.