Guardiola defended Haaland with everything and trashed Roy Keane for calling the Norwegian a ‘League Two player’

Pep Guardiola It’s not just the DT of Manchester City, current European and world champion, titles obtained for the first time in the 143-year history of the English club. The Spaniard with a past at Barcelona and Bayern Munich is also a leader who keeps and plays for his players, and this week he set a new example, lining up in defense of Erling Haalandpunished by Roy Keane.

The historic former midfielder of Manchester United, who became a coach and now a television commentator, mercilessly criticized Haaland, highlighting his coldness in his definition but harshly questioning his ability on the ball when he is outside the area. The Norwegian, a finalist in the latest awards that choose the best footballer in the world, played a decent match against Arsenalin a match that ended in a 0-0 draw and moved the current monarch of the premier league.

“He’s the best in the world in front of goal”, began the Irishman, shortly before launching his ferocious comment: “but his game in general, for a player like that, he is very poor. Not just today. “He has to improve it.”

“He’s almost a League Two player, that’s how I see it. His overall game has to improve. He will in the next few years. He’s a brilliant striker, but he has to improve his overall game.” “added the capricious United legend.

In view of a new City match in the local championship, in this case against Aston Villa From Emiliano Dibu MartinezGuardiola was asked about Haaland’s performance and specifically Keane’s statements, giving rise to a strenuous defense of a player who is fundamental to winning the treble in 2023, the magical year in which he finally managed to become Champions League champion. the Premier League and the FA Cup.

“I don’t agree with him at all. Is he a second or third league manager? I don’t think so,” said Guardiola, ignoring Keane’s managerial career, which saw him lead Sunderland AFC to promotion in 2007. and then became an assistant working for his country’s national team, as well as for Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

“Haaland is the best striker in the world and he helped us win what we won last season. The reason why we didn’t create many chances (against Arsenal) wasn’t Erling, it’s that we need more presence in the “last third of the match. pitch, with more people,” Pep acknowledged. And he adds: “We played an exceptional match, I reviewed it, but we lacked people in the final third perhaps due to the quality and technique we have. Erling is exceptional.”

After the praise for Haaland, just 23 years old, the City manager went further and closed his response by talking about Keane and explaining how a footballer feels when he receives criticism from a colleague.

“It surprises me that this comes from a former player. I understand it from journalists, they have never been on the pitch, but from former players it is always a surprise. It’s like referees when they retire, they criticize the referees,” Guardiola said.

And he continues: “Is this issue so difficult with former players? It always surprises me. Their memory quickly disappears. The problems that players have, they have had. They have failed a thousand, millions of times and they felt hurt when they were criticized by opponents”. former players.” players.

“But today is what it is. We have to accept it and move on. I don’t know what will happen in the future, but I will not criticize my colleagues when I retire. ‘It should be like this, it should be like this, I could do it.’ Now I could do it and not I do it. But everyone has to live off something. The 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 a public figure you have to accept it”, concluded Guardiola.

According to the numbers highlighted by the British press, Haaland has scored just once in the six matches he has played against the five best in the league. However, Guardiola attributes this deficit to the entire team and his performances as a coach.

“Sometimes he fails, sometimes he needs better help, sometimes it’s the coach’s instructions, sometimes the opponent is very good,” explained Pep, and concluded: “In football there is not only one reason, there are many. “Football is a team sport, it is not individual like golf or tennis.”

This Wednesday from 4.15pm, City welcome Aston Villa, fourth in the Premier League, and Haaland will have the chance to silence the criticism in front of none other than Martínez’s equaliser.