Manchester United legend Roy Keane believes his former side could have a mentality problem in the matches against their top six rivals.
The Red Devils played out a 0-0 draw with top four rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, which was fourth 0-0 in a row for the club against one of their top six rivals.
United have failed to win in their seven matches against Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham this season, scoring just once in a 6-1 defeat to Spurs in October.
That goal came from a Bruno Fernandes penalty within two minutes in the defeat to Jose Mourinho’s side and United once again failed to score in their draw against Chelsea on Sunday.
United had a good record against their rivals last term but Keane thinks the team’s 6-1 defeat to Spurs has had a scarring effect on the team this campaign and says his former side now have a mentality problem.
‘Maybe they are scarred from the Spurs game,’ Keane told Sky Sports.
‘I don’t know this group but maybe their mindset going into these games…sometimes you can have a 0-0 or the goalkeeper is fantastic or a missed penalty or whatever but some of these games that we’ve covered have been boring – considering there’s really good attacking players on the team.
‘We dressed it up before the game saying there’s clean sheets and there’s positives but the lack of goals from United’s point of view given the players on the pitch it might be there mindset or as the game goes on settling from the draw. Not looking to be beaten.
‘I always think the Manchester United’s mindset that generally speaking when you’re playing for a top team the onus is on you to win a football match, you take a risk to lose it.
‘But the mindset of United at the minute is not to be beaten in these big games instead of going: ‘listen, lets go for it’.
United’s title hopes were all but over before the draw against Chelsea but the focus is now fully on finishing second behind Manchester City.
The draw means United maintained a six-point gap on Chelsea in fifth and the Red Devils will look to capitalise on the Blues’ clash against Liverpool in midweek by beating Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Wednesday.
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