Roy Keane has told Sky Sports that Diego Llorente’s inability to stay with Harry Maguire was like “cheating”, as the England defender opened the scoring in Manchester United’s 4-2 win over Leeds United at Elland Road.
Llorente, 28, started his fourth consecutive Premier League match on Sunday – but was hooked at half-time. Leeds changed shape during the break, bringing Joe Gelhardt and Raphinha on, with the Whites 2-0 down.
Spain international Llorente was poor. Leeds are renowned for being shaky at the back and the ex-Real Sociedad man was guilty more than most – losing Maguire from a corner. The ex-Leicester man obliged, heading home.
While Leeds are poor in terms of defending from set-pieces, United had failed to score from a corner in 140 previous attempts. Keane criticised Leeds defender Llorente for “cheating”, on Sunday afternoon.
“He’s cheating, even his body position isn’t great,” Keane said. “It is a reminder to players that even though there is one ball, you’ve got to do more than one job. It is not enough to say, I’ve got my man.
“You’ve got to do a couple of jobs. You’ve got to keep an eye on where the ball is coming from, if your mate slips – it is a form of cheating, he’s just grabbing people. He’s actually too tight [to Maguire].”
Keane on Llorente: Leeds star uncharacteristically poor on Sunday
Llorente was all over the place against Manchester United. Normally a reliable member of the Leeds defence, which is normally outnumbered given the emphasis on attack, he failed to live up to his normal form.
He will hardly lose his place in the side – especially after Robin Koch was forced off and Liam Cooper remains sidelined. But Leeds miss their captain hugely, a voice on and off the pitch, a leader.
While he might not be the club’s best player, he brings a reliability and an assurance at the back that Leeds so desperately crave. The Whites are in a relegation scrap and the return of Cooper will be a massive help.
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