DON’T LOOK FLAK IN ANGER
City boss Pep tells his superstars take criticism on the chin ...or give up being a footballer and get a job ‘reading books’
PEP GUARDIOLA has told his Manchester City players they must accept the criticism that comes their way – or find another job.
City’s record-breaking goalscorer Erling Haaland came in for some flak at the weekend from former Manchester United captain and Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane.
Keane said Haaland (right), who plundered a record 52 goals in his debut season and has 29 to his name this season, was “almost like a League Two player” after his anonymous display.
Although Guardiola rejected Keane’s comments, the City boss did accept that his players have to learn to live with criticism in the modern game.
“They have to do it,” said Guardiola. “It’s their job, so accept it. If you can’t accept it as a footballer you have to dedicate to another job, like reading books or (whatever). “When you are in public so much, you have to accept it.”
Guardiola said he was surprised to hear such blunt criticism coming from explayers, given they know how tough it is to perform in every game.
“I’m surprised it’s coming from former players,” he said. “From journalists I can understand, because they have never been on the pitch, but from the former players, always I’m surprised.
“It’s like the referees when they retire – they always criticise the referees. How difficult is that business for the players? That always surprises me. The memory disappears quick.
“The problems that the players have now, they (the pundits) had. The number of missing actions, they missed it a thousand million times and they were hurt when they were criticised by the former players. But today it is what it is. We have to accept it and move forward – that’s why I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.
“But I’m not a guy who is going to criticise my colleagues when I retire, going there saying it should be this, should be that.
“I could be doing it now. But I don’t do it. It’s easy to do but everyone has to live for something.”
Defending Haaland from Keane’s criticism, Guardiola reminded the 52-year-old that the City striker is only as good as the service he receives from team-mates.
“It’s football, it happens,” said Guardiola. “Some actions he missed, sometimes it was down to a lack of supply, sometimes a decision of the manager and sometimes the opponent is really good.
“Sometimes, when you don’t have success, it’s for many reasons.
“It’s a team sport, not individual, like golf, tennis or the other ones.”
‘When you are in public so much, you have to accept it’