Once again Cristiano Ronaldo was the topic of discussion in the Sky Sports studio, with Roy Keane and Micah Richards arguing over the legendary striker's role in the Manchester United squad following United's 6-3 defeat to Manchester City yesterday afternoon.
The Portuguese attacker played no role in Sunday's derby defeat and after the game, ex-United captain Keane claimed that his former teammate had been disrespected by the football club.
While Richards attempted to point out that Ronaldo doesn't fit with Erik Ten Hag's style of play and his lack of defensive work would've been detrimental to United against a top-class Man City team, Keane was having none of it and claimed that Ronaldo's guarantee of goals outweighs his lack of defensive acumen.
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Here's the full transcript of the extraordinary exchange:
Keane: The great players and the top players want to play week in, week out. Ronaldo did not come back to Manchester United to sit on the bench in a derby game.
Richards: But does his style of play suit the way they want to go?
Keane: – Oh Micah, here we go.
Richards: You come to the Etihad, you know Manchester City are going to have the majority of the ball –
Keane: They got hammered anyway!
Richards: I know.
Keane: You talk about pressing, pressing’s the new buzzword in football, pressing!
Richards: When he’s set up you’re thinking how we’re going to win this game.
Keane: I don’t care if a player’s not pressing if he’s going to get me 20/25 goals. He was the league’s leading scorer for Manchester United [last season]. I don’t think he was doing too much pressing then. Manchester United have lost three games this season already.
When Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates interjected that Ronaldo's presence last season seemed to effect certain players, and that his absence this term had allowed some to flourish, Keane once again defended his former teammate.
Keane: “Well that’s their fault. That’s their fault, not Ronaldo’s. I’ve never had a problem playing with a striker who’s going to score 20/25 goals ever, I don’t care if they never ran back or if they even got hold of it.
“We had a torturous afternoon looking at Aston Villa because they couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net but we’re criticising Ronaldo because the ONLY thing he does is score goals!”
Richards : But there is more to the game… I agree with you on Ronaldo.
Keane: Not if it’s just attacking players. You’ve got other players who can do the –
Richards: I said last season Ronaldo should be playing, I agree with you. But I’m saying the way the manager wants to set up now, coming to the Etihad on the counter-attack –
Keane: And it worked (!) They’re 4-0 down at half time.
Richards: You know that Man City are going to out-pass you, outwork you –
Keane: With or without Ronaldo
Richards : So the manager probably thought before the game –
Keane: Well he was wrong, well he was wrong –
Richards: ‘I’m going to play high intensity players, and it didn’t work, I agree with you. But the results Man United have been getting against Liverpool, against Arsenal they’ve been sitting and playing on the counter-attack –
Keane: And that’s fine…
Richards: He’s [Ten Hag’s] played people who are going to press high and with intensity so he’s come into this game –
Keane: Man United haven’t pressed before, is this the new buzzword?
Richards: [Laughing] I’m not saying it’s a new buzzword –
Keane: You don’t have to press –
Richards: I’m saying this season playing that game on the counter-attack with pressing and playing –
Keane: You don’t have to press all the time.
Richards: I agree with you.
Keane: Who was the leading goalscorer for United last season?
Richards: Ronaldo!
Keane: All right, brilliant.
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