Manchester United legend Roy Keane insists that the departures of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo have helped a feel-good factor return to Old Trafford.
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Since the termination of Ronaldo's deal at the Theatre of Dreams in late 2022, the Red Devils have seen a remarkable up-turn in form, having now won eight successive games at home in all competitions.
The most recent of those victories came against Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup semi-finals on Wednesday night, when goals courtesy of Anthony Martial and Fred secured United's passage to the competition's final for the first time since 2017.
Covering the encounter as a pundit was Keane, and while the former tough-tackling Irishman was a vehement supporter of Ronaldo prior to his departure from the Manchester club, he has now admitted that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's exit has had a significant positive change on Erik ten Hag's men.
"I think that [Ronaldo's departure] has helped the manager and the club," he said during Sky Sports' broadcast of the semi-final.
"That whole Ronaldo situation, he obviously wasn't going to sit on the bench and be happy with it. They've now dealt with it and now it's not hanging over the club anymore.
"The other five or six lads that left, [Edinson] Cavani another one.
"Those who were fringe players, coming off the bench, and when they were coming on they weren't bringing anything because they felt they should have been starting.
"Those subs and fringe players have to come on and be ready, whereas the fringe players last year, you just felt they were energy-sappers.
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"There definitely feels around the club a new energy, the new manager has put a few markers down after a bad to start to the season, and that momentum and that feel-good factor is back at the club."
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