Pep Guardiola hit out at Roy Keane on Tuesday after the former Manchester United captain described Erling Haaland’s all-round game as being reminiscent of a League Two striker.
Manchester City’s top scorer attracted criticism after Sunday’s goalless draw with Arsenal with Keane claiming that aside from finishing, the Norwegian offers nothing.
Guardiola defended Haaland by insisting City’s lack of firepower was not his fault.
‘I am surprised it comes from former players,’ he said.
‘I am not agreeing with him, absolutely not. It’s like if I said he’s a manager for the second or third league.
‘The memory disappears quick. The problems the players have now, the pundits had.
'The missing of chances, they missed them one thousand million times and they were hurt when they were criticised by former players.’
Guardiola, whose side host Aston Villa tonight, added on Haaland: ‘He’s the best striker in the world and he helped us win what we won last season.
'The reason we don’t create many chances is not because of Erling. We need more presence in the final third with more people. Erling is exceptional.'
zocbiprsty
1015
Julian Alvarez is better than haalland
joars77
734
Keane sometimes forgets he was once a player, and I don't think he ever did in one season what Halland did for Man City last season. He really needs to be fair with his criticisms.
Bavarian1996
355
When Lampard scored his 100 goal. He wore a vest that read “100s not out, They’re all for you”. It simple means out of all the shots he took, 100s went in. Missing goals are part of FOOTBALL. You need 100 shots to score 10-20 goals. Just because of a match we don’t have the right to criticise Haalaand
mishaelmaik
230
Pep accept it or not Keane is very correct and you know it. Haaland needs to improve his game. back in the day when your team were playing with false 9 you were more dangerous and UNPREDICTABLE but now , its like everyone knows that Haaland needs to be fed and even if he's being fed he doesn't score because he is very very PREDICTABLE.. the truth is had it been Haaland converted some crucial chances into goals Mancity would've been topping the leagua by now with a very long margin. ...as it is said _ the truth is bitter..
jusnstz
185
Roy Keane is right about what he said about Halland open play.he did say he halland was a great goalscorer but when he's not scoring goals he looks like a league two striker and I agree 100 percent because he cannot take on and beat a defender because he doesn't possess that kind of skill. full stop.
Rimaeilmsz
14
He made a very well circumscribed statement, he acknowledged Haaland is an elite goal scorer, he did not criticize Haaland's whole existence, being, life or repertoire. He spoke about 1 aspect of his game which he thought was not good enough. Only deliberate misunderstanding can make anyone disagree. It is not even something new. When people were comparing Haaland with Mbappe, Mbappe was always ahead because he was a better all round player while Haaland's elite status was for tap ins, smash ins, head ins, kick ins, which makes his game too reliant on good delivery. The day good delivery is lacking he would be poor. Roy Keane is right.
Fimceilopu
9
Julian Alvarez is better than haalland
that's according to Pessi fan.. how many Goal did your Alvarez had.. just because he is idolized by Ronaldo he's not better.. brainless pessi fan🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣