Manchester United legend Roy Keane says Sir Alex Ferguson‘s team have lost their fear factor.

Keane wrote in the Sun on Sunday: “There is no doubt in my mind that United will be crowned champions because the results midweek were too little, too late, to swing the title race back in Manchester City’s favour.

“But they need to make a statement of intent because I’ve yet to see what this team’s DNA is, what they’re made of.

“They can do it by going to City’s place at the end of the month and winning.

“United need to build a reputation for themselves so sides are intimidated by them and don’t go into games thinking they have a chance of getting a result, because that has been the case this season.

“Last year’s Champions League final was a reality check for United — and every other side — about how far behind Barcelona they were.

“Alex Ferguson vowed to close the gap — and made sweeping changes to his squad to try and do it — but the reality is they haven’t done that this season.

“If the sides played each other tomorrow, you’d expect the same outcome as we saw at Wembley.

“In fact, United were knocked out of the Europa League by Athletic Bilbao — who are 40 POINTS behind Barca in the Spanish League.

“And it’s not as though that is the only blip they’ve had this season.”