ROY KEANE's sharp brutally honest way with words has become infamous in footballing circles for a number of years. The former Ireland and Manchester United captain had some harsh words for current United captain after the defender celebrated by blocking his ears after scoring against Albania.
Maguire has been in dreadful form for club, where he was on the end of real pastings against Leicster, Liverpool, and Manchester City. Maguire's antics against Albania, who aren't world beaters seemed to rile Keane up.
"That's embarrassing, he's been a disgrace the last few months for Man Utd."
Roy Keane was not impressed over Harry Maguire's celebration after his goal earlier tonight#ITVFootball pic.twitter.com/mMXfpZkyCT— ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 12, 2021
Speaking on ITV, he said Maguire's celebration presumably directed at his recent critics was 'embarrassing'.
He puts his hands to his ears like he's shutting his critics up... it's embarrassing.
He's been a disgrace the last few months for Manchester United. He scores and he thinks he's going to shut his critics up. It's embarrassing.
Many ex-players have come to the defence of Harry Maguire. Micah Richards, who is friendly with Keane took issue with his stance saying players arent robots.
People: Footballers are like robots, they have no personality!
Harry Maguire. Scores the opening goal for his country, celebrates with real passion whilst referencing those who have been criticising him.
People: That's embarrassing pic.twitter.com/T7bfC0FphK— Micah Richards (@MicahRichards) November 13, 2021
Speaking on talkSPORT, former England and Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor accused Keane of 'bullying' Harry Maguire by consistently criticising him in the media.
I’ve seen the quotes and the video of it from Roy Keane and I think Roy Keane is being a big bully, there.
I think he’s bullying him because Harry Maguire has been under a lot of pressure after some not very good performances for Manchester United.
This was the next game available to prove that he’s a good centre-half. Yes, it’s Albania but, still, we had a job to do. He scores, the excitement of scoring – you’re going to celebrate.
If I was going for a run of bad form when I scored the goal, I’d want to do the exact same celebration – hands on your ears to the critics to say, ‘I’m going to try and put in a good performance’, and he did that.
I thought his defending was very good and he scored a goal. Every time he does something now it feels like everyone is against him.
He’s English, he’s the captain of Manchester United. Yes, there’s pressure with that, but he’s probably our best centre-half.
Let’s get behind him and not always trying to criticise him.
For me, it’s bullying from Roy Keane. Everyone sort of jumps on the bandwagon whenever Roy Keane says something.
Gabby Agbonlahor on Roy Keane's comments on Harry Maguire: "I think Roy Keane’s being a bit of a bully there — everyone sort of jumps on the bandwagon when Roy Keane says something." #mulive [@talkSPORT] pic.twitter.com/Btc8bB7kAl
— utdreport (@utdreport) November 14, 2021
Gareth Southgate, the England manager also chimed in and said Roy Keane needs to be quotable. Southgate said:
So I understand that, just to stay relevant in some of those fields you've got to say things that are more quotable and of course, everything is lifted now and used from the live broadcasts for the next day's headlines.
"Everybody in those shows knows that's how it works and it fulfils a different part of our industry. So I think that's that's where we're at. Personally, as a manager, I get it and so be it. But I'm sure for the players maybe they might feel differently, they're younger.
"They're less experienced in all of those different fields that perhaps I've got and they're probably thinking that there are players who surely remember how difficult it was to play and that they probably didn't like it when they were criticised.
"To step over the white line is the most difficult thing. I'm sure they feel that a little bit differently to somebody of my age but I personally I get it. It's that's the industry and so be it."
Many Manchester United fans would probably share Keane's opinion judging by Maguire's form.
