Roy Keane does not need to apologise for Erling Haaland analysis – he has every right to criticise the Man City star

09/05/2024 17:17

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has every right to criticise Erling Haaland and should never apologise for his views.

That is the opinion of talkSPORT host Simon Jordan, who has defended the former midfielder for his controversial takes on the Manchester City striker.

Speaking in March, Keane likened Haaland’s build-up play to that of a League Two player, claiming despite his brilliance in front of goal – he has never criticised that aspect – his general side of the game needs to improve.

Haaland, whose dad Alf-Inge had a high-profile spat with Keane during their playing days that landed them both with knee injuries, shrugged those comments off following his four-goal haul against Wolves on Saturday.

But the he found himself in Keane’s bad books over his animated reaction to being brought off, leading to Premier League’s top scoring player being branded a ‘spoilt brat’.

Keane‘s remark outraged City fans, while journalists Jason Burt and Henry Winter had things to say about them, but Jordan has insisted the 52-year-old has done nothing wrong.

Speaking on the White and Jordan show, he said: “I would much rather listen to Roy Keane’s analysis than Jason Burt’s and Henry Winter’s on anything resembling football.

“What I will also hear, is someone that says something of substance, someone that doesn’t sit on the fence, someone that isn’t worried about offending people.

“Someone who says what they mean and doesn’t prevaricate and want to fall the rights out of the argument all the time, rather than fall on the basis of an argument having some substance to it.

“Do I think his comparison [of Haaland] to a League Two player is hyperbole?

“Do people use exaggerated statements to be able to highlight the primary point, which is his build-up play or his link-up play isn’t good enough?

“Is it a fair comment? Yes. Is the extremes that he’s gone to, too far? Does he need to apologise? For what? He’s got an opinion.

“Who’s he got to apologise to, and for what? To Erling Haaland?”

Danny Murphy then rejected accusations that Keane’s analysis of Haaland is agenda-driven due to his spat with his father.

Which led Jordan to state: “You have to do it properly. If, during his period of time in English football, Roy Keane has said nothing positive about Erling Haaland, and being merely-mouthed when he’s been forced to say something positive, then you can make that accusation.

“So get the credit column, look at the debit credit. The debit column right now says he’s made two comments. Do they have any resonance to them?

“Could Haaland do more in certain aspects of his game? I think the answer is probably yes.”

He continued: “We’re in a sports entertainment business, so when you’re talking to somebody, what do you want? Do you want Roy Keane to not operate at full throttle?

“And so the agenda is, ‘Let’s load up some questioning that is going to get Roy Keane going for it, because we’re in the business of entertainment.’ So that’s an agenda.

“Are there any examples of Roy Keane having a positive bias, where you can clearly see what he’s doing is looking at something through a prison where he supports it entirely, even if it’s wrong?

“I don’t think so. I think he’s objectively good and bad in equal measure.”

Haaland is on course to win his second successive Premier League Golden Boot having scored 36 goals in his debut season, which saw City end the campaign in 2023 as treble winners.

City are also targeting an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title.

Listen to White and Jordan every weekday from 10am on talkSPORT