Roy Keane joked that Erling Haaland was like a championship-level player during Manchester City’s 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest, after previously labeling the Norwegian a ‘League Two’ striker.
Haaland was on target for the reigning champions at the City Ground as Pep Guardiola’s side kept pace with Arsenal in the Premier League title race on Sunday afternoon.
The 23-year-old striker started the match on the City bench, but was deployed in the second half as the Blues searched for a decisive second goal. Haaland took just nine minutes to find the back of the net after being introduced, finding the bottom left corner after being played in by Kevin De Bruyne.
Admitting the former Borussia Dortmund star is “not a bad option” to bring in as a replacement, Keane joked on Sky Sports: “He looked a lot like a Championship player.
“He has improved a lot. In terms of goalscoring, he is absolutely incredible. He’s taken three or four touches there and the defender is behind.
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“There is no doubt about its quality. You watch players come off the bench, he would be frustrated and when he comes in he wants to have an impact on the game. When the game is so tense and you have If you have people like De Bruyne he will find you. »
Keane’s comments come after the former Manchester United midfielder likened Haaland to a player plying his trade in the fourth tier following City’s goalless draw against Arsenal earlier this month.
Criticizing the City number 9’s overall play, Keane remarked: “His general level of play is so bad. Not just today, I think his kicks, his headers, whatever – in front of goal he is the best in the world – but for such a player his overall game is so poor… he has to improve.
“He’s almost like a Ligue 2 player, that’s how I see him. His overall game needs to improve, and he will in the next few years.”
