Manchester City and Spurs played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Etihad this evening, but there was a disagreement between Roy Keane and Micah Richards over the causes for Dejan Kulusevski's late equaliser in the game.
It was a massively exciting game featuring two attacking sides, both of whom produced their fair share of pieces of quality attacking play and moments of madness at the other end.
Jérémy Doku ➡️ Julián Álvarez ➡️ Phil Foden ✅
𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓬 Manchester City ⚽ pic.twitter.com/6WLRG9q6CQ— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 3, 2023
Manchester City found themselves leading 3-2 in the closing stages of the game on the back of a goal from Jack Grealish in the 81st minute, although there was another twist to come.
Dejan Kulusevski would score a dramatic equaliser in the 90th minute, rising above Nathan Ake at the far post to fire home a header and secure a point for his side.
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Roy Keane clashes with Micah Richards over Man City player
Manchester City will come away massively disappointed with the draw in this game, having twice led in the match and missing quite a few chances to extend those leads even further.
In the end, they only really had themselves to blame for their failure to secure all three points.
Their defending was poor at times, perhaps including from Nathan Ake in the buildup to that all important equaliser.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Micah Richards attempted to defend the Dutchman for being beaten so easily in the air. However, Roy Keane was not buying his excuses.
"Just go and head the ball!" 😡
Roy Keane and Micah Richards getting heated over that Dejan Kulusevski equaliser 👀 pic.twitter.com/VZrwAcrM6j— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 3, 2023
Richards: I wouldn't like to be a defender coming on in this game, Ake has come on and got to get into the game.
Keane: Why?
Richards: Because you're not fresh.
Keane: You are fresh...
Richards: Kulusevski does so well just when he's making the run. [Ake] looks forward and just with the last look, Kulusevski manages to get above him.
Keane: Micah, you go and attack it. He hasn't even gotten off the ground, you go and attack it.
Richards: He's looking for where the player is coming from, he's on his heels in the last minute.
Keane: What I would say to you is don't worry about the player, do not worry about the player. Just go and head the ball! You said he just came on and he has got to get up to speed, but he's certainly fresh. It's a 1v1, he's got to be up to that...
If you're doing drills everyday in training, he's not got off his feet!
Richards: Yeah but Kulusevski is running towards goal so he's already in motion.
Keane: I get that, but he doesn't get off the ground. When that ball leaves his foot I think Ake is favourite to win it...
Everyone talks about movement, but there's only one ball. He's got to head it, then you end up winning the football match.
Richards was certainly being kind to Ake here, with the defender not really attempting to compete for the ball in the air and lacking the awareness to know where his opponent was.
As Roy Keane pointed out, if he simply competed better in the air, his team probably would have won the game.
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