Keane: Talk is cheap, City must win to justify the hype
Like United, City have started the season in flying form and while Keane has been impressed, he feels Roberto Mancini’s side still have plenty to prove.
“I don’t think City have played anybody yet. That’s not City’s fault you can only beat what’s around you. They’ve come against one really good team and that was in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and they were well short,” Keane said.
“They’ve a hell of a long way to go. City need to be at it on Sunday if they want to get a result. But talk is cheap. You got to do it. If City want to make real progress, they’ve got to turn up on Sunday and turn United over. If not then I would say keep quiet.
“I don’t think it will be a cagey affair. I think it’s going to be massive, particularly for Man City if they go there and win — I don’t think they will — but if they could go and beat United at Old Trafford, what you’re doing all the time is making statements and if they could go and get three points I think they’d be five clear of Manchester United, that’s a cushy little lead for them,” Keane said in an interview with the BBC.
“Mancini has got so many options with (Sergio) Aguero now looking really sharp, (David) Silva has started the season really well. United will obviously be very dependant on (Wayne) Rooney as they always are in the big games.”
Keane has noticed a more positive, ruthless approach from City this season.
“That’s the big challenge for City this year. I think the remit for the manager last year was get in the Champions League and if you could win a League Cup or an FA Cup, fantastic and that’s what he’s done.
“This year, I think he’s mentioned it himself, he thinks they’re capable of winning the league but talk is cheap, let’s see how they do on Sunday and over the next few months.
“What held them back last year was too many draws whereas this year Mancini, to be fair to him, he’s looked and thought ‘listen, if we’re going to win the league we’re going to need to win more matches’ so if he goes with a positive attitude which I expect him to do on Sunday, it sets it up for a brilliant game.
“If City could win on Sunday I think it would shock to everybody.”
As Alf-Inge Haaland would testify, Keane had a reputation as a hardman in his playing career. Like many, the former Sunderland and Ipswich manager feels the modern game has gone soft.
“There’s a skill in tackling people and ‘nailing people’ so yes, the game has changed,” he said.
Asked if players can’t be as aggressive in the modern game, Keane said: “I still think you can do it and take your yellow card. Yellow cards are fine, it’s red cards that are the problem. Keep away from them, you can take your yellow card. Everyone’s going a bit soft.”
And the competitive man that Keane is, he would love to be still playing.
“When football’s in you blood and you’ve played for a great club like Manchester United you’d give anything to go back and play in one of those games.’’
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