Keane told he ‘couldn’t lace Haaland’s boots’ in blunt response to Man City criticism

Roy Keane recently described Erling Haaland as a “League Two player” in terms of his general play, but his words have been shot down by a fellow former pro.

Haaland has been an undeniable goal-machine since arriving at Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund for just €60m at the start of last season, scoring 82 goals in 90 games since.

His output has slowed a dash this season, and he was kept quiet as Real Madrid held City to a 3-3 draw in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday, but his overall play has come under scrutiny.

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“In terms of in front of goal he’s best in the world, but his general play is so poor,” Keane had said as part of his League Two jibe, and French football daily l’Equipe gave him an unflattering score for the Madrid game.

And now former Liverpool and England man Stan Collymore has stood up for his fellow forward.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 8, 2023

What did Collymore say?

“…maybe it’s time a fellow striker told it as it is to both [Keane and l’Equipe] and stated a couple of obvious things rather than jump on popular bandwagons” he wrote in his latest CaughtOffside column.

“Firstly, the kid has scored goals in every team he’s played at. Lots of them too. Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, he’s done it in three very different environments: England, Germany, and the Champions League, all while being a relative rookie.

“Leave the kid alone, neither Keane nor anyone at L’Equipe could lace his boots at the same age!”

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At 23 years of age, Keane was a year into a Manchester United career that eventually took in seven Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph in 1999.

A defensive midfielder in his pomp, he might argue that his game was more complete than Haaland’s even then.