Erling Haaland has offered a cocky reply to Roy Keane, who branded him a “League Two” level player following Manchester City’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal on March 31, 2024.
Haaland during an interview with Viaplay, brushed aside the comments of the Manchester United legend expressing that he doesn’t care about him.
Erling Haaland was in his fiery elements against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, May 4, 2024, scoring a haul (4 goals), helping Manchester City to a rampant win over the visitors.
The Norwegian scored two goals from the spot in the 12th and 45+3, whilst clinically netting another in the 35th and 54th minute.
Haaland took home the match ball and he was seen smiling and delighted by his display in the epic encounter.
Erling Haaland joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund on July 1, 2022, for a fee of €60 million.
The 23-year-old has been sublime in front of goal since his arrival and that saw him win several awards, including the Golden Boot for the Premier League and that of the UEFA Champions League.
However, despite his brilliance with the Cityzens, Haaland has also received his fair share of criticisms for his inability to turn up in big games alongside missing great chances.
One of his biggest critics this season has been Roy Keane, who compared him to a “League Two” player as earlier indicated, pointing towards his holistic play as the reason for his assertions.
The comment of Keane that elicited the reply from Haaland
Kean, who made this comment after Manchester City had drew 0-0 with Arsenal in March 2024 said:
“The levels of his general play is so poor, and not just today, I think his general laying stuff off, headers, or whatever it might be in terms of front of goal is best in the world, but for his general play for such a player, it is so poor.
He added: “Not just today, I think he has to improve that he’s almost like a League Two player.
“That’s the way I look at him his general play has to improve and it will do over the next few years. There’s been this brilliant strikers fantastic. But he has to improve his all-round game.”
The reply of Erling Haaland to Roy Keane
Responding to the assertions of Keane in May 2024, after his haul against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Haaland said: “I really don’t care about that man”.
Alfie Haaland and Roy Keane
Several individuals have linked the assertions of Roy Keane to his frosty relationship with the footballer’s father Alfie Haaland.
Alfie, who was playing for Leeds United in September 1997, had collided with Keane in a game, with Roy Keane going down following the clash.
Alfie Haaland stood over the Manchester United great accusing him of feigning injury and according to him, also telling the Irishman to “get up”.
Roy Keane didn’t take the actions of Alfie in a good light, and he exerted his revenge on the Norwegian in 2001.
Meanwhile, the clash between the pair in the encounter in 1997 turned out that Keane had in fact picked up a cruciate ligament injury, and he was ruled out for the remainder of matches in the 1997/98 season.
In 2001, Alfie Haaland was playing for Manchester City, and in a heated Manchester Derby, Keane ran over and handed a career-ending challenge to Erling Haaland’s father.
Roy Keane has often said his motive was primarily revenge and has previously shared that he doesn’t feel sorry about it.
Haaland is now a “Championship” level player – Keane on the Manchester City star
Anyway, Keane, who is a pundit for Sky Sports, has had some “Okay” words to say about Erling Haaland, after the striker netted against Nottingham Forest on April 28, 2024, after coming off the bench, following his return from injury.
Roy Keane said: “He was very much like a Championship player, he has improved a lot! In terms of a goalscorer, he is absolutely amazing, there’s no doubting his quality in terms of his finishing.
Keane praised Erling Haaland for the sharpness he displayed, after coming on to replace Jack Grealish in the 62nd minute of the affair.
The Irishman said: “When he’s coming on he will want to have an impact on the game and when it’s stretched like that he’s got people like De Bruyne, he’s going to find you and then it’s just that bit of sharpness which he has shown.”
