KEANE IN NEW OUTBURST - STAM TO SUE?
The outspoken Republic of Ireland international criticised many of United's stars last season for 'going through the motions' and said The Red Devils needed to invest heavily on some quality players.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson responded by splashing out £50 million on Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron, Roy Carroll and Laurent Blanc, but Keane excused United's latest recruits from their indifferent start to the new campaign and said the existing squad had to work harder.
"It is up to the existing players to pick up their performance level and work even harder than before to keep pace with the demands on us," he said.
"Because results have not been brilliant so far, it is easy to single out the new boys for criticism. But that would be wrong. They have come in and been great."
United have struggled to get out of first gear at times this season, although they showed signs of a return to form in the second half of their clash with Tottenham on Saturday. Trailing 3-0 at half time, United stormed back to win 5-3, but Keane says United cannot afford to let that happen in the Champions League.
"It may be great to watch but try that in Europe and you will come unstuck," he added.
"You cannot go 3-0 down in the Champions League and expect to get anything out of it. We should know because we were 2-0 adrift against Bayern Munich last season and could not salvage it, and 3-0 behind against Real Madrid and on our way out the season before.
"That was crazy stuff and cannot be allowed to happen again."
Meanwhile, Jaap Stam is reported to be considering legal action against The Red Devils in the wake of his departure to Lazio.
Stam feels he was 'fired' by Ferguson weeks after a national newspaper serialised his book and it is understood he has contacted a London-based solicitor to explore his legal rights.
Ferguson insisted his departure was based purely on football reasons, despite being furious at Stam's allegations that he tapped up the Dutchman before his move to United and encouraged his players to dive in important European matches.
Stam claimed he never wanted to leave Old Trafford and accused United of treating him like 'a piece of meat', but Ferguson insisted Lazio's £16.6 million offer was simply too good to turn down and good business for the club.
However, legal action remains unlikely as the player is understood to be keen to get on with his career in Italy.
