Roy Keane backs Manchester United for ‘easy’ title win

Posted Wednesday, August 10, 2011 by thesun.co.uk

Roy Keane backs Manchester United for ‘easy’ title win
History Repeating ... Keano reckons Fergie should get ready to lift trophy again

Roy Keane is convinced Manchester United will win the title "comfortably" as their rivals collapse.

The Old Trafford legend believes only Manchester City pose any kind of threat to United's dominance and dismisses the challenges of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

In a blistering attack on United's so-called rivals, Keano says:

CHELSEA'S bickering players will self-destruct.

ARSENAL have not bought anybody to spark a title challenge.

LIVERPOOL are "nowhere near" being ready to win the League.

Keane said: "Even Sir Alex Ferguson said the other day the league's getting tougher. But I don't think so.

"If United are really at it, which they will be, they'll win it comfortably.

"Even last year when United were slipping up, no team was strong enough to take advantage of it."

United may have lost Edwin van der Sar, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, John O'Shea and Wes Brown this year.

But Irishman Keane dismisses talk of Fergie's squad lacking enough experience to retain the title — and points to the quality of youngsters such as Chris Smalling and Danny Welbeck as reason to think United will not be weakened this season.

He said: "United have bought well. People talk about losing experience and I appreciate that Van der Sar, Neville and Scholes have all retired.

"But they have good young players coming through — and Wayne Rooney can play better than he did last season.

"When you look at the players they have left behind, they have Vidic, Rio, Darren Fletcher — these are all international players. And Giggsy is still there, too.

"United don't let players go unless they know they have players coming through to replace them. Ashley Young and Phil Jones are good players, Chris Smalling is coming through and Danny Welbeck is a good player coming back after being on loan at Sunderland last season.

"And when the older lads come to the end in four or five years, you'll have the likes of Jones and Smalling to step in with five or six years experience behind them.

"It's like a machine.

"You can talk all you like about other teams getting stronger but, for me, United have got stronger as well.

"They're going to do the business. Of all the teams, if one has the balance right I believe it's United."

Keane believes Chelsea's appointment of new boss Andre Villas-Boas has failed to address the root cause of the London club's problems.

The Irishman, 39, said: "Everybody is on about this new young manager — but I don't think the manager will be the problem.

"It's always the players down there, they all seem to self-destruct. They're big pals one minute and the next you hear they're all bickering with each other and players aren't happy if someone else scores."

Keane, who spread his 458 appearances for United over a 14-year stint at Old Trafford, is equally dismissive of the title chances for both Arsenal and Liverpool. He said: "Arsenal haven't really bought anybody.

"They've signed a striker, Gervinho, and, while the jury's out, you always have to give a boy a chance.

"Liverpool have bought good attacking players but I think it's actually defenders that they need. I think we've seen that a little bit in pre-season.

"Don't get carried away, Liverpool are in no position to win the league, nowhere near.

"Kenny Dalglish is the right man for the job. They've spent big money and bought good players — Luis Suarez is strong, Charlie Adam is a good player, but that was at Blackpool, and it's a big challenge for him.

"I gave Jordan Henderson his debut at Sunderland and he's a really good player. But to improve your team and to win the Premiership are two different things."

All that leaves Manchester City as the ONLY team Keane reckons can be a threat to United.

He believes last season's FA Cup semi-final triumph over United gave the blue half of Manchester a massive boost.

Keane said: "You really have to take notice of City.

"I don't think the current City group see United as a machine that can't be stopped.

"Beating United at Wembley was a milestone for them.

"They've been close to getting results over United in the last few years — particularly when Sven Goran Eriksson was there and they did the double over United for the first time in a long time.

"But now you really have to take notice of City.

"When a team is spending that sort of money and bringing in the quality they have then they are a threat.

"City were very much a roller-coaster club but Roberto Mancini has done a good job."

Mancini has splashed £48m this summer, bringing in Argentine star Sergio Aguero, Gael Clichy and Stefan Savic.

Keane admitted: "It's all well and good having money but Mancini has brought established internationals - quality players who can handle the big occasions.

"When I was at United it was always about keeping them down there but they're creeping up now."