Haaland Responds to Keane's Criticism
Erling Haaland has delivered a blunt response to Roy Keane's recent criticism, stating he 'doesn't really care' about the former Manchester United captain's opinions. The Manchester City striker's dismissive comment came after Keane labeled him a 'spoilt brat' following a substitution incident in a Premier League match against Wolves.
Speaking to ViaPlay, Haaland said: 'I don't really care about that man, so that's all right.' The Norwegian international made it clear that he remains focused on his football, refusing to let outside opinions distract him, even from one of his father's biggest rivals.
The 'Spoilt Brat' Remark
Keane's latest attack came in the 2023/24 Premier League season after Haaland scored four goals against Wolves but showed frustration when substituted by Pep Guardiola. On Sky Sports, Keane said: 'We saw Erling Haaland yesterday being brought off, not too happy, behaving like a spoilt brat. But because Man City win the game and he scores goals, it's almost forgotten about.'
This was not Keane's first criticism of Haaland. Weeks earlier, after a goalless draw between Manchester City and Arsenal, Keane questioned Haaland's overall play, saying: 'The level of his general play is so poor... He's almost like a League Two player.' Guardiola defended Haaland, calling him the finest striker in world football.
Origins of the Feud
The feud traces back to a 2001 Manchester derby when Keane executed a notorious revenge tackle on Haaland's father, Alf-Inge Haaland. The incident stemmed from a 1997 match where Alf-Inge accused Keane of diving after the Irishman went down with a serious cruciate ligament injury. Keane later admitted in his autobiography that the tackle was deliberate, saying he had waited years for revenge.
As England and Norway prepare for their World Cup quarter-final, Haaland has scored seven goals in five matches, making him the tournament's top scorer. The Three Lions will need to contain him to advance to the semi-finals.
