Keane's advice to Hojlund divides opinion after Manchester derby claim

30 October 2023 , 11:09

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Roy Keane felt Rasmus Hojlund should've gone down for a penalty (Image: Getty Images)

Roy Keane's advice for Rasmus Hojlund has divided opinion among fans after the Sky Sports pundit urged the Manchester United forward to "go down for the penalty" against Manchester City.

The incident occurred during the first half at Old Trafford when Hojlund burst through the City back-line and into the box. He then appeared to lose a little bit of balance after contact from John Stones, before trying to round the onrushing Ederson. However, Hojlund's touch was too heavy and the City defenders managed to get back and stop him from having a shot at goal.

Hojlund did manage to square the ball instead to Bruno Fernandes, but the United captain blazed the ball over the bar from close range. But, when analysing the incident, Keane felt Hojlund should have gone down and initiated contact with Ederson as he came to close him down.

"I think he's [Hojlund] got to go down for the penalty," Keane told Sky Sports. "I'm not saying cheat... but we see it all the time. If he does down there and kicks into the goalkeeper I think it's a penalty."

Keane's words of wisdom to Hojlund have split opinion, with many fans disagreeing with the ex-United midfielder and his view on the situation. One said on Twitter : "This is the problem with football now, advising to fall over to win a penalty. Fair play to him for staying on his feet and not conning the ref."

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Another said: "In other words cheat is what your saying." A third added: " Roy Keane is trippin' Hojlund barely touched him, that's a dive for sure." Meanwhile, a fourth blasted: "Terrible advice... Tut tut."

However, there were some fans that agreed with Keane and felt Hojlund should have gone down. One said: "If Hojlund had gone down it would have gone to VAR and potential red card (last man), I'm not saying it was a red, but this was definitely a game changer." A second added: "Yep he should’ve tbh, honesty doesn't pay in football."

Rasmus Hojlund avoided contact with both John Stones and Ederson in an attempt to score without going down

A third claimed: "Said the same thing could've gone down with the defender or even the keeper if he slows down or leaves a trailing foot in or out the box it's a different game."

"I was thinking the same," another claimed. "In slow motion you could see that he had the perfect chance to go down, but he’s not a cheater so he chose to stay up. Good integrity there but if it’s a City player they would go down 100% everytime. It’s what Pep taught his players to do in Barcelona, they will do the same here for City."

As for the game itself, City ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Old Trafford thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden's second-half strike. The result leaves United languishing in eighth and a mammoth 11 points behind leaders Tottenham after just 10 matches.

Kieran King