BURNLEY co-owner JJ Watt asked Manchester United legend Roy Keane if he was “smoking weed” when he labelled Erling Haaland a “League Two player” last month.
Keane criticised the Manchester City striker following his performance against Arsenal on Easter Sunday.
He said: “The levels of his general play is so poor and not just today. I think laying stuff off, headers, whatever it might be. In terms of in front of goal, he’s the best in the world.
“But his general play for such a player is so poor. Not just today, he has to improve.
“He’s almost like a League Two player, that’s how I look at him. His general play, it has to improve and it will do over the next few years.”
Keane’s rant left many football fans stunned, especially given Haaland’s Premier League goalscoring record.
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Former NFL star and Burnley co-owner Watt was also surprised by the United legend’s comments.
In the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, he asked Keane: “League Two striker? Were you smoking weed?”
But the former midfielder doubled down on his comments, admitting: “I don’t know what the big deal is, I give Erling Haaland praise every week, I give Manchester City praise, and I think he’s an amazing striker. But his general play is that of a League Two player.
“And I’m glad you are not agreeing with me, I don’t expect people to agree with me. His general play, week in, week out is nowhere near good enough. As a goal scorer and a striker, the best – and I said that.
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“His link-up play, the way he lays the ball off, sometimes the options he gives his teammates or the options he doesn’t give them – as a striker and a goal scorer the best in the world, but his other play is that of a League Two player.
“The game against Arsenal was tough because they did well to contain the whole game, but in general, I don’t think what I said was a big deal.
“He’s a young player and he will improve, and I guarantee you that Pep Guardiola sits with his staff on everything and say that he needs to do more, specifically when he’s not getting of chances or loads of goals.”
Man City currently sit third in the Premier League table, one point behind Arsenal and Liverpool.
They next face Luton at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
