Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has fired back at Premier League legend Roy Keane after he likened to star striker Erling Haaland a League Two-level player.
A pretty wild claim, to say the least, so it’s no surprise Pep had plenty to say in response.
The comment came about after the former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder was left unimpressed by Haaland’s all-round play during his performance against Arsenal – a game that could have proved to be a decisive date in the title race but ended up being a bit of a damp squib.
Keane, 52, qualified that while the Norwegian talent in front of goal is “the best in the world” and will no doubt keep improving overall, he also believes that his “general play, and not just [in that game] is so poor”, adding that he’s “almost like a League Two player” in his link-up ability.
Big words, to say the least, Roy – and not ones that were appreciated by Guardiola, who clearly felt he had to come out and defend his number nine following the remarks.
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Clearly not in the mood for pundits and journalists in both his post-match interviews and pre-match presser ahead of City’s next game against Aston Villa – his very sarcastic response to a reporter’s question about Jack Grealish was evidence of that – Pep decided to fire back with a dig of his own.
When asked what he made of the admittedly bold comments, the 52-year-old Catalan coach began by saying “I don’t agree with him, absolutely not”, before quipping: “It’s like [if] I said ‘He’s a manager for the second or third league’ – I don’t think so”.
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It isn’t the first time the two have butted heads after Keane also suggested that Pep was “doing it for show” when he began coaching Haaland on the pitch after the full-time whistle in their derby victory at Old Trafford earlier this season. He wasn’t having any of it this time either.
The Spaniard went on to insist that the 23-year-old is “the best striker in the world” and was instrumental in helping his squad manage their remarkable achievement last season.
He also reiterated that Haaland was not the reason his side didn’t create enough chances against Arsenal over the Easter bank holiday weekend, arguing that they simply need “more presence in the final third”, noting that it was a mix of missed chances, lack of service and then decisions from himself.
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Marketed as what could have been one of the games of the season, the home team ended up seeing out a 0-0 draw to leave just three points separating Liverpool at the top, Arsenal in second and the Blues in third. It really does look like things are going to go right down to the wire.
You can watch Pep Guardiola’s pre-match press conference in full down below:
Details of huge Manchester City parade through city centre announced
Daisy Jackson
The victorious Manchester City will be taking to the streets in the city centre once again to celebrate their historic four-in-a-row achievement.
Details of this year’s parade have just been announced, travelling from the National Football Museum and along Deansgate.
An open-top bus will carry the team and their winners’ silverware through town on Sunday, marking their unprecedented fourth Premier League victory in a row.
If previous years are anything to go by, thousands of fans will flood to the city centre to celebrate with Manchester City when they hit the streets on 26 May.
This also happens to be the same day as the Great Manchester Run, so Manchester is expected to be extremely busy.
After tens of thousands of runners cross the finish line on Deansgate, the space will be readied for the Manchester City Parade, which will take place from 7.30pm until around 9pm.
There’ll be a number of road closures in place on Sunday for both the race and the parade.
The Blues are the first ever male team since the inception of the Football League in 1888 to win four successive championships.
Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Congratulations to Manchester City. Being crowned premier league champions once again and for an astonishing fourth year in a row is an incredible achievement by the club and its players, showing once again that Manchester’s world class sporting credentials really are second to none.
“We know how much this means to fans of the club young and old – not just in Manchester but around the globe – and the homecoming parade on Sunday promises to be an unmissable night to remember for fans and players alike as they celebrate this historic title win together.”
A list of road closures over the weekend in connection with the Great Manchester Run is already available online at manchester.gov.uk/roadclosures and will be added to ahead of the weekend with any further road closures deemed necessary in order to facilitate the Manchester City parade.
Pep Guardiola admits he will miss Jürgen Klopp ‘a lot’ as Liverpool boss leaves club after nine years
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confessed he will miss fellow coach and long-time rival Jürgen Klopp as he officially left Liverpool after nearly a decade this weekend.
The German football manager, who ended the Scousers’ 30-year wait for a first-division title and won them two more European cups, departed the club after nine years on Sunday following the final day of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Having been given an emotional send-off by the Anfield faithful and delivering a heartfelt speech to the city he’s come to call “home”, Guardiola was obviously asked his thoughts on his final chapter in his post-match press conference.
While the focus was obviously on winning a record fourth league title in a row, a visibly emotional Pep did go on to admit, “I will miss him a lot”.
🗣️ "I will miss him a lot. Jurgen has been a really important part of my life."
Pep Guardiola CLOSE TO TEARS talking Jurgen Klopp, & not because his farewell overshadowed Man City winning the league. 😉
Clearly moved by the question and by taking in the years they’ve shared on the touchline, the 53-year-old said of his former Premier League and Bundesliga rival: “Jurgen has been a really important part of my life. He’s [taken] me to another level as a manager. I think we respect each other incredibly”.
He went on to add, “I have the feeling he’ll be back and I just want to say thank you so much for his words… he knows personally that behind me there a lot of things that this club provides me… he’s helped me with him and he’s been a huge competitor in my life”.
Even speaking prior to the game, Pep was already full of admiration for his opposite number, telling Sky Sports last week that not only will he miss Klopp but going so far as to claim that “football needs him, as well as naming his teams amongst those who he often struggled to unlock.
Safe to say the home crowd gave him a momentous send-off in his final appearance as the Liverpool manager, though he made certain he’ll be back to visit the city and Anfield again in the future.
Liverpool looked like he might be able to keep his side in the title fight right until the last but it ultimately went on to become a two-horse race, with the Blues beating him and Arsenal to the post once again.
Whether you’re behind ‘enemy lines’ here in Manchester or you’re just curious to hear what he said, you can watch Klopp’s farewell speech in full down below.
Regardless of the rivalries, you have to admit, it’s been great to watch the two coaches duke it out for the best part of a decade.
We’re sure Pep isn’t the only one in Manchester that’ll miss Klopp. Whoever you support, he’s been a massive character in English football.