But let’s go to the most recent incident. Keane, who currently makes a living as a TV pundit, did not like Haaland’s behavior after the substitution. Against Wolves, coach Pep Guardiola withdrew the four-goal scorer in the 82nd minute at 4-1. He wanted to conserve strength, nothing special.
But Haaland planned to score a fifth goal. And then the sixth. Probably even the seventh. As a proper gunner, he is driven forward by an insatiable hunger for goals. That’s why he didn’t forgive himself for the angry gesture after sitting on the switch.
“He was angry when they took him down. He acted like a spoiled brat,” Keane didn’t take napkins. “But he scored a few times and City won, so it will be forgotten,” he added.
“And isn’t that a cool reaction when he’s scored four goals?” countered Sky Sports presenter David Jones.
“No, it certainly isn’t,” snapped Keane.
It probably won’t be presumptuous to say that the former combative midfielder is not very fond of Haaland.
At the turn of March and April, the Norwegian goal-scoring machine was hit by a minor drought. A crisis, if you will. Haaland shot a much higher ratio of chances than usual. And even then Keane kicked him.
“It’s bad for the game. Almost like a player from the fourth league. He has to improve,” he said at the time.
By the way, David Zima expressed himself similarly after the Czech national team’s match with Norway (2:1) in March. Albeit a little milder.
“He is a top footballer. World extra class. But when he misses his serve, he is an ordinary player. You can defend yourself with teamwork,” said the Slavia stopper.
Kean’s criticism was noticeably sharper, true. That is why the discussion with journalists turned to her after Haaland demolished Wolverhampton with four goals. It probably goes without saying that, with twenty-five notches, he became the top scorer in the league. So how does Haaland view the United legend’s talk of a fourth-tier player?
“Honestly, I don’t care at all what the gentleman says. I’m quite fine with that,” responded the gunner.
A spoiled brat would probably choose a different answer.
And some remind that Keane himself has enough butter on his head. Those who remember will certainly remember the mix-up between him and the coach of the Irish national team before the World Cup 2002. At that time, the star midfielder and captain of the national team complained about the unfavorable conditions at the training camp, a cut on his mouth cost him a place in the nomination.
But that’s another story…
