“I don’t care what he said his an old man looking for attention and recognition in the media the other time he called me a league 2 player but I closed his mouth

In a recent match against Wolves, Erling Haaland of Manchester City delivered an emphatic response to Roy Keane’s criticism with a stellar performance, netting four goals, including a first-half hat-trick.

Keane’s critique originated in March when he likened Haaland’s overall performance to that of a “League Two player” after a lackluster showing against Arsenal. Keane, known for his candid post-match analyses, didn’t mince words, particularly targeting the 23-year-old striker’s general play.

During a post-match analysis with Sky Sports, Keane remarked, “The levels of his general play are very bad…He is the world’s finest in front of goal. However, it is very subpar for a player of his caliber in general. He needs to do better at it, not just today. In my opinion, he resembles a player from League Two. His whole performance needs to be better, and it will in the upcoming years.”

In response, City manager Pep Guardiola swiftly defended Haaland, praising him as “the finest striker in the world” and highlighting his indispensable role in the team’s previous treble-winning season.

Keane, however, stood by his assessment, acknowledging Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess but maintaining his critique of the striker’s overall play. During an interview with Sky Bet on the Stick To Football podcast, Keane reiterated his perspective, suggesting that Guardiola had addressed the matter internally with his staff.

Keane stated, “I don’t see the big issue; I think Erling Haaland is a terrific striker and I commend Manchester City and him every week. However, he plays more like a League Two player overall. I don’t expect anyone to agree with me, so I’m delighted you don’t either.”

Continuing his analysis, Keane emphasized Haaland’s strengths in link-up play and goal-scoring but reiterated his belief that the striker falls short in other aspects of his game, likening his performance to that of a League Two player.

While acknowledging the challenging nature of the game against Arsenal, Keane maintained that his critique wasn’t overly significant in the grand scheme of things.