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.'