Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has defended striker Erling Haaland following Roy Keane’s criticism after Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal.
The ex-Manchester United captain said Haaland’s “general play” is “so poor” and “almost like a League Two player”.
“I don’t agree with him, absolutely not,” said Guardiola when asked about Keane’s comments.
Haaland scored 52 goals in all competitions last season and has 29 this term – 18 in the Premier League.
“He’s the best striker in the world,” added Guardiola of the 23-year-old Norwegian.
City are three points behind leaders Liverpool after Sunday’s match, which saw the home side fail to score in a Premier League game at the Etihad Stadium for the first time since October 2021.
Speaking as a pundit on Sky Sports after the game, Keane said of Haaland: “The levels of his general play is so poor, and not just today. His general play for such a player, it is so poor, I think he has to improve that, he’s almost like a League Two player.”
But Guardiola responded: “Some actions he missed, sometimes it’s the managers, sometimes the opponent is really good, there are many many reasons.
“In football there is not just one reason, sometimes where you have success or you don’t have success, there are many reasons, it’s football, it’s a team sport.”
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton said Haaland just came up against “brilliant defenders” in Sunday’s match against second-placed Arsenal.
Speaking on Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, he added: “It was total nonsense and unfair on Erling Haaland. Everybody has sung [William] Saliba and Gabriel’s praises all season.
“Could Haaland have been a bit stronger, could he have been a bit cuter, could his brain have worked better in those moments? Of course. But at times you come up against brilliant defenders, which [Saliba and Gabriel] were on Sunday.
“He wasn’t brought into Manchester City to play a creative role, he was brought in to occupy the centre-halves and for others to create for him because he’s the monster finisher.
EPL: Pep Guardiola Defends Haaland After Roy Keane Criticism
