Manchester United have recruited heavily as manager Louis van Gaal prepares for his second season in charge, but former captain Roy Keane doubts whether his former club can overtake Chelsea.
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Such self-promotion wasn’t Keane’s way of doing business as a player, and partially explains why he is overlooking them as title contenders – Arsenal last won the league in 2004.
But the Gunners made a statement of intent on Sunday when they defeated champions Chelsea 1-0 in the Community Shield thanks to a fine goal from England midfielder Oxlade-Chamberlain.
“There’s too many Arsenal players interested in selfies, I think, whatever they are. Instead of focusing on winning Premier League titles, it’s all about how their bodies look and how their hair is”, Keane said.
“But they also have one or two players who are more interested in selfies and six-packs, guys who are trying to get their pictures taken every day of the week“.
‘Nah, ‘ said Keane, ‘he’s good bloody good players.
“Look at all the players they’ve bought over the last couple of years”.
The Dutchman added Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Morgan Schneiderlin and Sergio Romero this summer – on the back of the £150 million they spent past year.
Keane insists the League is Chelsea’s to lose, as long as they stay focused. “We can’t get too carried away but it is a good end to our pre-season which has gone really well”.
“They’ll be in the mix but I don’t think they’ll have enough.
They are a bit like they were in late 1980s, buying a lot of players thinking they will gel into a team”, he explained.
“United will be better and they will need to be stronger out of the blocks, but if I was a betting man – which I’m not – I’d still go with Chelsea”.
“But I still think they need another centre half”.
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“I am putting in the work off the pitch and fitness is one of the most important things in the game, it gives you the platform and allows you to do the things you want to do”. ‘Both teams have different characters, different dynamics, ‘ he said.
