Roy Keane gives brutal verdict as Bruno Fernandes says he apologized to Erik ten Hag after Manchester United sacking

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes may have meant well with an act towards Erik ten Hag, but Roy Keane was having none of it.

Ten Hag was relieved of duties as United manager on October 28 after overseeing the worst start to a Premier League season in the club's history.

It ended a tumultuous two-year run in which they won two trophies, but also included a worrying eighth-place finish in the league last season, United's worst finish in the Premier League era.

Although much of the blame fell at the Dutchman's feet, the players' efforts were questioned, especially towards the end of his reign.

joined 5-2 win of Leicester City, two days after Ten Hag's dismissal in the Carabao Cup, did little to dismiss that notion, especially as it was interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game in charge.

Van Nistelrooy also led the Red Devils to a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday in which Fernandes scored his first league goal of the campaign.

Speaking after the contest, Fernandes revealed to Sky Sports that he had apologized to Ten Hag since the sacking and wanted his former boss to know that “I always gave my 100 per cent to help him”.

“We all know that when the coach leaves, everyone gets involved, but only one pays because it is easier to get rid of a coach than 10 or 15 players,” Fernandes said.

“I spoke to the manager. I spoke to him and also apologized to him to ask him if there was anything I could have done better for him; I feel really disappointed that he's gone.

“But obviously what I have left is that I will give my all and I will try to help as much as possible. Obviously I didn't score goals and that is very important for me and for the team. We are not scoring many goals and I feel a great responsibility in that because Normally I am a player who scores a lot of goals and gives a lot of assists and that didn't happen.

“So I feel disappointed about that, but I always gave my 100 percent to help him. The main thing for me is that he is aware of that and it's something I can at least keep in my head.”

Fernandes added that Ten Hag's dismissal is “not good for anyone” as it shows that the team is not where it should be.

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“We're all disappointed because every time you see a coach leave you have to take a little bit of the blame,” Fernandes said.

“First you have to look in the mirror because if you leave it is because the team is not doing very well. Each one, as an individual, has to look at themselves first.”

Even though Fernandes' heart was in the right place in apologizing to Ten Hag, Keane disagreed.

The Irishman pointed to the United captain's leadership qualities and felt he could and should have done more to help Ten Hag avoid the sacking.

“Too little, too late,” Keane told Sky Sports in reaction to Fernandes' comments.

“I wouldn't have much time or patience for that, for a player to apologize for having disappointed you. Too little, too late.

“You're judged by what you do on the football field and I don't think Bruno did enough and didn't show that leadership.”

Sporting coach, Rubén Amorim, is in charge of replacing Ten Hag and will officially begin on November 11.

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Fernandes, who joined United from Sporting in January 2020, is an admirer of Amorim's achievements at his former club and praised the 39-year-old's ability to create a positive atmosphere.

“I'm a big Sporting fan and I watch a lot of their games,” Fernandes said.

“Rubén Amorim brought excitement back to the club. He was a little divided when he arrived (at Sporting).

“He transformed everything and brought everyone together.”