English Premier League: Roy Keane tees off as Manchester United draw with Tottenham
A “disgusted” football legend has launched into a stunning tirade, singling out two high-paid flops as Manchester United drew with Tottenham.
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Manchester United escaped with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham this morning (AEDT) but were denied a penalty that would have given it the chance to leave with all three points as the resumption of the English Premier League season continued.
Paul Pogba was the game-changer for the Red Devils as he returned from a 10-month injury lay-off, the enigmatic Frenchman making an immediate impact after being brought on as a substitute in the 63rd minute.
The striker was fouled by Eric Dier after an incisive run into the box and Bruno Fernandes converted the resulting penalty to level things up with 10 minutes remaining.
The VAR then robbed United of a possible 2-1 win when the on-field referee blew another penalty, only to be overruled by the video review system when it was deemed Dier hadn’t caused Fernandes to take a tumble.
“Bit disappointed we didn’t win,” United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told Sky Sports. “Football is strange. Last year Spurs absolutely battered us for 40 minutes and today it is the opposite. The performance is the pleasing thing.
“First 25 minutes we were very slow. Paul Pogba is one of the best players in the world and it is great to have him back. He is delighted to be back.
“I am sure everyone can see he has great hunger for the game. It is a different team to the one he left when injured.”
Tottenham took the lead in the first half courtesy of a blunder from United goalkeeper David de Gea, who couldn’t stop a rocket of a shot from Steven Bergwijn after he surged past two defenders and into the box.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane singled out Spanish international de Gea and England defender Harry Maguire for letting Bergwijn through as part of a scathing attack on the Red Devils’ performance in the opening 45 minutes.
“It’s a massive defensive error — three people involved and de Gea can do much better,” Keane told Sky Sports at halftime. “I’m shocked by that goal. I’ve watched a lot of football and to give away that goal, I’m fuming.
“I’m staggered at Maguire and I’m sick to death of this goalkeeper.
“I would be fighting him at halftime, I would be swinging punches at that guy. I am flabbergasted.
“Maguire and de Gea, I wouldn’t even let them on the bus after the match. Get a taxi back to Manchester.
“These are established international players. Do your job.
“Shocking. I am disgusted.
“Maguire and de Gea should hang their heads in shame. De Gea is the most overrated goalkeeper I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
Former Socceroos shot-stopper Mark Schwarzer said de Gea is simply making too many errors.
“Over the last 18 months David de Gea has made a considerable amount of mistakes and that’s not expected from a keeper at that level,” Schwarzer told the BBC.
“The demand for success is so high, and his standards haven’t been at that level for some time.
“For a top, world class keeper, the maximum mistakes that lead to a goal shouldn’t be more than two a season and he’s clearly made more than that.”
In today’s other match, Southampton defeated Norwich 3-0.
Originally published as English Premier League: Roy Keane tees off as Manchester United draw with Tottenham