Erling Haaland of Manchester City delivered a resounding response to Roy Keane with an impressive performance, scoring four goals against Wolves, including a hat-trick in the first half.
In March, Keane had criticized the Norwegian’s overall performance, likening it to that of a League Two player, particularly highlighting his lack of impact against Premier League rivals Arsenal.
Following Haaland’s quieter display in front of goal, Keane reiterated his assessment of the striker during his post-match analysis on Sky Sports, stating that Haaland’s general play levels were below par for a player of his caliber. He emphasized the need for improvement in various aspects of Haaland’s game, not just in scoring goals.
In response to Keane’s criticism, City manager Pep Guardiola praised Haaland as the finest striker in the world and highlighted his importance to the team’s success, particularly in their previous treble-winning season.
During an interview on the Stick To Football podcast with Sky Bet, Keane defended his comments about Haaland, acknowledging the striker’s goal-scoring abilities but maintaining his stance on other aspects of his game.
He clarified that his criticism was not meant to undermine Haaland’s talent but rather to highlight areas where improvement could be made.
Keane also mentioned the challenge posed by Arsenal in containing Haaland during the game, but he stood by his assessment of the striker’s overall performance.
