EPL: Pep Guardiola Defends Man City Striker After Roy Keane’s Criticism

Following Manchester City’s goalless draw against Arsenal, Roy Keane’s criticism of Erling Haaland’s performance drew attention. Keane, a Sky Sports pundit expressed disappointment in Haaland’s general play, going as far as comparing it to that of a “League Two player.” While Keane acknowledged Haaland’s exceptional goal-scoring abilities, he called for improvement in the overall aspects of his game.

City fired a rare blank at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday with Haaland enduring a frustrating afternoon, touching the ball just 23 times, as they lost ground in the Premier League title race.

In response, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola came to Haaland’s defense, highlighting the striker’s crucial role within the team, especially amidst the intense Premier League title race. Guardiola’s support of Haaland emphasized the striker’s importance to City’s aspirations & their quest for success in the Premier League title race.

Roy Keane stated “He’s almost like a League Two player that’s the way I look at him. His general play has to improve. It will do over the next few years. [He’s a] brilliant striker but he has to improve his overall game.”

However, speaking ahead of City’s fixture against Aston Villa on Wednesday night, Guardiola defended Haaland & claimed it wasn’t the striker’s fault that his team didn’t score.

“I do not agree with him, absolutely not. He’s a manager for the second or third league? I don’t think so,” said Guardiola.

“He’s the best striker in the world & he helped us win what we won last season. The reason why we didn’t create many chances [vs Arsenal] was not Erling, it’s that we need more presence in the final third with more people”.

“We played an exceptional game, I reviewed the game against Arsenal, but we missed more people in the final third maybe for the quality and skills that we have. Erling is exceptional”.

“I’m surprised this came from a former player. From journalists, I can understand, never been on the pitch but former players are always a surprise. It’s like the referees when they retire they criticize the referees”. Guardiola emphasized.

He continues “How difficult is that business for the players? It always surprises me. Their memory disappears quickly. The problems the players have, they had. They missed a thousand, million times and they were hurt when they were criticized by’ the former players”.

“But today is what it is. We have to accept it & move forward. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future but I’m not going to criticise my colleagues when I retire. ‘Should be this, should be that, could do that’ – I could do it now and I don’t do it. But everyone has to live for something”.

“Players have to accept it, it’s the job. If you don’t want to accept it you have to do another job. When you’re this public figure you have to accept it.”

Haaland has scored just once in six attempts against the top five sides this season although Guardiola insists it’s down to the team. They are three points behind leaders Liverpool ahead of Aston Villa’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.