Dec 16,2024
Former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane launched a scathing attack on Manchester City full-back Kyle Walker after he went to ground following a confrontation with Rasmus Hojlund.
Walker and Rasmus Hojlund went head-to-head after the defender had blocked the striker's run during the first half of Sunday’s Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium with the England international collapsing to the turf after contact was made.
Referee Anthony Taylor issued both men with yellow cards after the 40th-minute incident, but Sky Sports pundit Keane felt the official could have gone further.
Asked if he would have given a red card, the ex-midfielder said: "Red card? Yes, to Walker.
"You don’t mind a bit of this, this is going to happen in the game, a bit of argy-bargy, of course. But I look at it. He’s obviously been blocked, but Walker.
"Of course it’s a foul, it’s a free-kick and that’s fine. Hojlund is not happy – that’s fine – and he goes over. How can Walker… Walker must be embarrassed. He must be embarrassed to go down like that, an experienced player.
"Listen, they say contact – look at this. I don’t know the guy and I’m embarrassed for him."
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards attempted to mitigate for Walker, saying, "He’s better than that."
Keane, however, was not convinced, adding: "Is he? I’m not so sure."
After United’s late comeback sealed a 2-1 victory, Hojlund quickly took to Instagram to share his views on the incident.
Alongside a picture of him butting heads with Walker, Hojlund wrote: "Manchester is red. Violets are blue. What a brilliant performance. But the Oscar goes to…"
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Despondent City boss Pep Guardiola was at a loss to explain a difficult afternoon.
He told Sky Sports: "This year, I would say many times this has unfortunately happened. We give away many things against Feyenoord and in games this season and at this level, it's more difficult.
"We are not, I would say, nice in the way we play. Before it was so fluid and now we struggle for different reasons – of course for a lot of defeats – but we put everything in, the game was almost closed except one chance for Bruno Fernandes.
"OK, they were a little better, more possession in the first half, but nothing special. But at the end, we give away the two goals and it’s more difficult."
