April 2nd 2024.
Pep Guardiola was not pleased with Roy Keane's criticism of Erling Haaland's performance in Manchester City's recent match against Arsenal. The striker, who is known for his impressive goal scoring abilities, had a rare off day and was unable to make much of an impact on the game. This was a crucial match for City in the title race, and a win would have seen them move up in the standings.
However, they were held to a goalless draw, and Keane did not hold back in his assessment of Haaland's overall play. He stated that the young striker's general performance was poor, and even likened him to a player from League Two. This is not the first time Haaland's non-goal scoring abilities have been criticized, despite his impressive record from last season.
Guardiola, on the other hand, was not in agreement with Keane's comments and defended his player during a pre-match press conference ahead of City's game against Aston Villa. He expressed surprise that such criticism was coming from a former player and stated that he did not agree with Keane's assessment. He even went on to say that it would be like him saying Keane was only fit to manage a team in the lower leagues.
The manager also pointed out the short memory of critics and how they quickly forget their own struggles as players. He reminded everyone that even top players and pundits had their fair share of missed chances and criticism during their careers. Haaland, who is only 23 years old, has already scored an impressive 29 goals in 35 games this season and is currently leading the race for the Premier League Golden Boot.
Guardiola acknowledged Haaland's talent and contribution to the team's success, stating that he was the best striker in the world. He also mentioned that the team's struggles in creating chances were not solely the fault of the striker, but rather a lack of presence in the final third from other players. In conclusion, Guardiola defended his player and praised his exceptional abilities, while also highlighting the need for improvement in other areas of the team's performance.
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