Pep Guardiola responded to Roy Keane’s criticism of Erling Haaland, defending the Norwegian striker as “the best striker in the world.” Guardiola attributed Manchester City’s treble win last season to Haaland’s contributions.
Following a 0-0 draw against Arsenal, Keane, the former Manchester United midfielder, praised Haaland’s finishing but criticized his overall play, suggesting he looked like a League Two player.
Pep Guardiola, speaking ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Aston Villa, disagreed with Keane’s assessment on Haaland. He compared it to saying, “He’s a manager for the second or third league – I don’t think so.” Guardiola emphasized Haaland’s pivotal role in City’s success, stating that the team’s challenge in creating chances was not due to Haaland’s performance. He highlighted an exceptional game against Arsenal where they missed more players in the final third.
Regarding Keane’s remarks about Haaland’s general play, Guardiola acknowledged the potential of other players like Julián Álvarez, Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne, and Oscar Bobb. He noted their ability to move effectively in different positions on the field.
There is hope for John Stones’ availability against Villa, but Kyle Walker is ruled out and might also miss the Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid.
Manchester City trails Liverpool by three points and Arsenal by one. With only eight games remaining after the midweek fixtures, City needs both teams above them to drop points to have a shot at retaining the title.
When asked about cheering for Manchester United against Liverpool, Guardiola joked, “I always cheer on United,” before adding, “No, not really.”
Villa, on the other hand, faces a setback as their top scorer, Ollie Watkins, will be unavailable due to a hamstring injury sustained in the win over Wolves.
