'It's like if I said he's a manager for the second or third league': Pep Guardiola hits back at Roy Keane - and his 'quickly disappearing memory' - after his 'League Two' jibes at Erling Haaland's ability

Pep Guardiola hit back at Roy Keane after the former Man United captain described Erling Haaland's all-round game as being reminiscent of a League Two striker.

Keane's scathing assessment of the Norwegian striker came after Manchester City were held to a goalless draw by Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon. 

The Premier League's top scorer endured a frustrating afternoon against the Gunners' thrifty defence which restricted him to few touches in the game. 

Keane felt that the performance at the Etihad was indicative of Haaland's overall quality in open play and demanded that his all-round game improve. 

However, Guardiola defended Haaland by insisting Manchester City's lack of firepower was not the 23-year-old's fault.

'I don't agree with him, absolutely not,' said Guardiola when he was asked about Keane's comments regarding Haaland. 'It's like if I said he's a manager for the second or third league.'

 'He's the best striker in the world and he helped us win what we won last season. The reason why we didn't create many chances [vs Arsenal] was not Erling, it's that we need more presence in the final third with more people.

'We played an exceptional game, I reviewed the game against Arsenal, but we missed more people in the final third maybe for the quality and skills that we have. Erling is exceptional.

'I'm surprised this came from a former player. From journalists, I can understand, never been on the pitch but former players is always a surprise. It's like the referees when they retire they criticise the referees.

'How difficult is that business for the players? It always surprises me. Their memory disappears quickly. The problems the players have, they had. They missed a thousand, million times and they were hurt when they were criticised by the former players.

'But today is what it is. We have to accept it and move forward. I don't know what's going to happen in the future but I'm not going to criticise my colleagues when I retire. 'Should be this, should be that, could do that' - I could do it now and I don't do it. But everyone has to live for something.

'Players have to accept it, it's the job. If you don't want to accept it you have to do another job. When you're this public figure you have to accept it.'

When asked why he thinks Haaland's goal return has slowed down - having scored just once in six attempts against the top five sides this season - Guardiola said it was down to the team. 

'Sometimes he misses, sometimes lack of supply, sometimes instructions from the managers, sometimes the opponent is really good,' said Guardiola. 'In football there is not just one reason, there are many. Football is a team sport, it's not individual like golf or tennis.' 

Guardiola's comments came after Keane slated the Manchester City striker for his performance on Sunday afternoon - stating he has to 'improve his all-around game'.

'The levels of his general play is so poor, and not just today, I think his general laying stuff off, headers, or whatever it might be in terms of front of goal is best in the world,' Keane said on Sky Sports' post-match coverage.

'But for his general play for such a player, it is so poor, not just today, I think he has to improve that he's almost like a League Two player.

'That's the way I look at him his general play has to improve and it will do over the next few years. There's been this brilliant strikers fantastic. But he has to improve his all-round game.'

Haaland was not alone in struggling to lay a glove on Arsenal's defence but his inability to participate in the build up phase was particularly noticeable on Sunday.

The 23-year-old had 23 touches in the game, no shots on target, nor key passes as the home side fell two points behind the leaders Liverpool at the top.

Despite leading the Premier League scoring charts with 18 goals - two more than a trio of players tied for second-place - Haaland is struggling to replicate his goalscoring exploits from the first part of the current campaign. 

The Norwegian striker managed to bag nine goals of his first 15 league appearances of the 2023-2024 Premier League campaign. 

Since a lengthy lay-off due to a stress fracture either side of the new year, he has found the net in three of his nine outings and grabbed a brace in only one. His numbers remain impressive but represent a drop-off from his previous output. 

Meanwhile, Keane has been out of the managerial hot-seat ever since his ill-fated spell at Ipswich Town came to an end in 2011. 

After being sacked, Keane subsequently went on to work as assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.