Roy Keane spreads blended kittens on his toast.
The churlish Man United legend couldn’t resist a dig at Liverpool and Spurs following the two clubs’ impressive showings in the Champions League this week.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men became the first side to deny Juventus victory from a two-goal lead since they moved to the Allianz Stadium in 2011.
While Jurgen Klopp watched on gleefully as Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah had their wicked way with Porto in Portugal.
A spirited Spurs performance and a 5-0 win away from home didn’t stop Keane branding both teams ’embarrassing’ during his punditry stint on ITV.
The 46-year-old Irishman criticised Spurs and Liverpool’s lack of trophies in the last ten years.
Watch the clip and the following discussion here…
“I know the Champions League has taken over now, particularly with the money behind it, but to be successful, to be a big club you need to win trophies,” Keane said.
“Clubs like Liverpool and Spurs should be able to qualify for the Champions League and win a League Cup or an FA Cup.
“Of course they should, that should go hand in hand.”
We assume the one trophy Keane is referring to is Liverpool’s League Cup of 2012.
Some would count Spurs’ triumph in the same competition in 2007/08 as part of the last decade as well, but anyway, that’s not really the point.
It’s hard to argue with Keane’s assertion that two teams boasting players of such quality in recent times should have more to show for their efforts.
Perhaps ’embarrassing’ is a bit strong but Keane’s straight-talking act is quite refreshing at times, even if it is a bit doom and gloom.
Keane’s comments prompt an interesting discussion.
Would a couple more League Cups distract from the fact neither Liverpool and Spurs have won the Premier League? Probably not.
Arsenal have hoarded FA Cups in recent times and yet criticism of their league and European form has only grown more intense.
A couple more domestic cups would pad out the trophy cabinets and give the fans something to cheer and celebrate but only a league title or a European triumph would put an end to the ‘flatter to deceive’ labels hanging off Spurs and Liverpool’s coattails.
Perhaps Liverpool and Spurs have generally forsaken the cups in order to prioritise league and European pursuits?
If so, you’d have to say that tactic is starting to bear fruit.
Spurs have been in the title race the last two seasons and have a great chance to eliminate Juventus, one of European football’s top dog, from the Champions League.
Liverpool are already through to the quarter-finals.
Given that Klopp’s team beat Man City an Anfield recently, you wouldn’t rule out them steamrolling any opposition at home in the next round.
The main issue is that Keane is looking to the past, rather than the future.
Liverpool and Spurs are improving whereas Man United and Arsenal, two clubs who have won trophies in recent times, seem to have stalled.
Not that we’d argue with Keano to his face…
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