Manchester United legend Roy Keane has said that the players at his former club are equally responsible for the Red Devils’ average Premier League season. The Mancunian giants recently took the decision to axe Mourinho from the head coach role but Keane believes the players should be likewise blamed for the results after not playing at their full capacity under the Portuguese.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, he said:“I do think the players, obviously, get away with murder. Just the way they hide behind the manager, Mourinho. Whatever you say about the players, they have thrown him under the bus and people have said Mourinho has been falling out with players, well you would fall out with players. That’s the name of the game and players turn up overweight or players are not training properly and not producing. And then for some of them to down tools, you know, shame on some of them players.”

With the departure of Mourinho, United have decided to pursue a temporary manager in the form of club favourite Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the season. The 45-year-old does not have much time to transform the club’s fortunes with the festive schedule coming around but he should be assisted by the fact that the schedule looks much friendlier.

United are set to face Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town, Bournemouth and Newcastle United leading into the New Year and based on the team’s capacity, the faithful will be hoping that they can secure the perfect tally of points during this period. Thereafter, they have a winnable FA Cup outing against Reading to contend before a crunch league game at Tottenham Hotspur which should bring out a test of Solskjaer’s credentials. United are currently sixth on the table after 17 games, 11 points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea.