Manchester United legend Roy Keane admits he's been impressed by manager Erik ten Hag.

Ten Hag has just guided United to the Carabao Cup final.

"When the manager came in, United were rock bottom and we had to talk about the recruitment, but what I think was key as well was the five or six players that left," Keane told Sky Sports.

"I'm not knocking all these players, Pogba, Mata, Matic, Jesse Lingard, lads who'd been around and knew they were leaving. They knew they'd be leaving and their contracts were up for most of them and I think that wasn't helping.

"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. The energy levels are different."

When asked if Cristiano Ronaldo was another example of the players Keane was referring to, he wasn't shy about adding his name to the list.

"I think that's helped (Ronaldo's departure) the manager and the club," Keane added.

"No one wanted that to be hanging over the second half of the season and it should have been dealt with in the summer. 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 now hanging over the club anymore. But also the other five or six lads that left, 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, where as the fringe players last year, you just felt they were energy-sappers."