Kosport Magazine: Guardiola defends Man City’s Haaland after Keane criticism
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has come to the defense of his star striker Erling Haaland after former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane criticized the Norwegian’s performance in Sunday’s match against Arsenal.
In an interview with Kosport Magazine, Guardiola fired back at Keane’s comments, calling Haaland “the best striker in the world.” He also pointed out that Haaland’s lack of touches in the game was not solely his fault and that the team as a whole needed to improve in the final third.
Guardiola’s response comes after Keane said Haaland’s “general play” was “almost like a League Two player” following the 0-0 draw with Arsenal. But Guardiola was quick to defend his player, highlighting Haaland’s impressive goal-scoring record of 52 goals in 53 games last season and 29 goals in 35 games this season.
The Man City coach also expressed surprise at the criticism coming from former players, stating that they should understand the difficulties of being on the pitch. He also noted that their memory of their own mistakes seems to disappear quickly.
Guardiola’s comments shed light on the pressure and scrutiny that players face, even from their fellow colleagues. He emphasized the importance of supporting and not criticizing each other, especially in the media.
Despite the draw with Arsenal, Man City remains in the top three of the Premier League standings with nine games left in the season. Guardiola’s team will continue to fight for the title, with Haaland leading the way as one of the best strikers in the world.
Kosport Magazine: Summary
Pep Guardiola has defended his star striker Erling Haaland after Roy Keane criticized the Norwegian’s performance in Sunday’s match against Arsenal. Guardiola called Haaland the best striker in the world and pointed out that the team as a whole needs to improve in the final third. He also expressed surprise at the criticism coming from former players and emphasized the importance of supporting each other. Despite the draw with Arsenal, Man City remains in the top three of the Premier League standings.
