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Roy Keane judges Man United’s European chances after Leeds loss
TL;DR
Manchester United's defeat to Leeds has jeopardized their chances of finishing in the Premier League's top five, with only six games remaining. Despite a goal from Casemiro, United failed to equalize and faced a setback with Lisandro Martinez's red card.
Roy Keane judges Man United’s European chances after Leeds loss
Manchester United’s Monday night defeat to fierce rivals Leeds has left the club’s position in the top five of the Premier League just that little bit more precarious, with six games of the season still to go. A dramatic 90 minutes at Old Trafford saw Daniel Farke’s men take charge of the first hour and deservedly find themselves 2-0 up through Noah Okafor’s brace, giving them a worthy half-time lead.
Casemiro’s bullet header halved the deficit, but United couldn’t force an equaliser despite creating a handful of chances in the second period. The sending off of Lisandro Martinez didn’t help the cause, with the Argentine’s hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin earning him a controversial red card and subsequent three-match suspension.
No panic just yet
The defeat will serve as a huge blow to Michael Carrick, who would have seen his side stretch their lead to 10 points over Chelsea in sixth had they beaten the Yorkshire club. However, former United captain Roy Keane believes there will be “no problem” with qualifying for next season’s Champions League despite the “big setback” of the result.
As reported by the Standard, Keane has urged United to end the campaign strongly and ensure they finish in one of the coveted top five spots. “There’ll be no problem with Man Utd getting into the Champions League, but they won’t want to end the season badly either.
They’ll want to finish on a high and keep that run going. Against Leeds with the way they performed, it’s a big setback for them,” he said.
Keane admitted United “started slowly” and just didn’t find their groove until, bizarrely, they went down to 10 men after the Martinez red card. Despite creating a few presentable opportunities in the last knockings, Carrick will surely be disappointed with the performance that has left his side with just one win in their last four Premier League games.
Huge trio of games ahead
Keane’s confidence will be put to the test in the next few weeks, with United travelling to Chelsea before entertaining Brentford and Liverpool respectively at Old Trafford.
Should United lose at Stamford Bridge, Carrick’s men will find their gap cut to just four points over their London rivals, with Aston Villa and Liverpool able to jump above them in the table with wins of their own.
One of the four will be missing out on Champions League qualification and, given United’s position before the Leeds game, it would be a major disappointment if they do end the campaign outside the top five.
Ultimately, United are still favourites to cement their place at Europe’s top table next year, but last night’s reality check will serve as a sharp reminder that there are no easy games in the Premier League.
A win in West London next Saturday would all but guarantee their ticket back to the Champions League, but they will have to be at their best against a Chelsea side who will be smelling blood after United’s showing in the first 60 minutes against Leeds.
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Q&A
What impact does Manchester United's loss to Leeds have on their European qualification chances?
The loss has made Manchester United's position in the top five more precarious, affecting their chances of European qualification.
Who scored for Manchester United in the match against Leeds?
Casemiro scored for Manchester United, reducing the deficit to 2-1.
Why was Lisandro Martinez sent off during the match?
Lisandro Martinez received a red card for a controversial hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
How many matches is Lisandro Martinez suspended for after his red card?
Lisandro Martinez is suspended for three matches following his red card.
