Has Robbie Keane always been this honest in interviews or is it something which has only come since his move to the MLS and his removal from the spotlight of the English media?
There's something refreshing about him when questioned these days. He has a tendency to say what's on his mind.
"Jesus, you’re trying to kill me here, we just won the championship"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSCU32B8qQY
Robbie had just scored the winner for LA Galaxy in the 2014 MLS Cup Final against New England Revolution. Despite this, in the post-match press conference, he was still asked about one of his misses during the game.
He was quick to knock the question back.
I only missed one chance, so, it wasn’t that bad. Jesus, you’re trying to kill me here, we just won the championship and [I] scored the winning goal. You’re on about the miss I made.
"Give it back to the farmer, he can put his cows back on it"
Two years ago, after a pre-season game against Colorado, Robbie had some complaints about the pitch.
He told the interviewer that the field could be returned to the farmer now so that he could put his herd back to pasture.
"Well, he's certainly one of the best in the MLS"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUcio6o_dGM
Confronted by a TMZ reporter after Jurgen Klinsmann omitted Landon Donovan from the US squad for the World Cup, Robbie was asked if he thought the former US international was still one of the best players in the world at the time.
The Dubliner responded somewhat diplomatically.
Well, he's certainly one of the best in the MLS.
Also asked he'd feel if he had been in Donovan's shoes, he said:
I'd be pissed off. Of course, man.
"I don’t know who makes these fucking stupid decisions."
Forced to play a game in the baking Chicago heat last June. Robbie did not hold back questioning MLS bosses regarding the decision to play the game in the middle of the day.
I don’t know who makes these fucking stupid decisions. Play a fucking game at three o’clock in the afternoon. Who wants to watch that crap? Do you? I don’t want to watch that crap.
These people who haven’t got a clue about soccer make these decisions when we play a game. Why not play at eight o’clock? It wasn’t on national television. It’s so stupid. They need to look at these games and use their head and be clever.
No player wants to play in that humidity. Everyone was affected by the heat. Why would you want to play at three o’clock in the afternoon? On the hottest day of the year so far here in Chicago, knowing it is going to be that hot. And you can’t blame the Kings-Hawks game because you didn’t know that was going to happen until two days ago.
This is absolutely ridiculous. We have to stop. We have to listen to the players instead of listening to people who have never kicked a soccer ball in their whole life.
I’m not fucking Niall Quinn or I’m not Shane Long
November's qualifier against Scotland was the first time Robbie Keane did not start a competitive international since 2001. It was a big decision by Martin O'Neill and Robbie was seriously honest when talking about the decision to 98FM's Stephen Doyle.
If the manager wants to play with one up front, I’m not fucking Niall Quinn or I’m not Shane Long. They’re better at that than I am. If they play two up front and want to score goals, then that’s my game. Listen, I’d prefer to talk about the team rather than individuals and making a big deal out of someone not starting the game. The manager made a decision and you have to respect that. Playing one up front doesn’t suit me. So it’s fairly obvious, I’m 5? 10?, it’s not my game.
"It's not something I go to bed every night thinking about"
Upon becoming LA Galaxy captain, Robbie was interviewed by the club's in-house reporter Adam Serrano. He did not get chest-beating enthusiasm he was hoping for regarding the striker's new role.
As I said before, it's nice to be captain bit it's not something I go to bed every night thinking about too much to be honest with you. Bruce made the decision and that's it. It won't change too much on my behalf. I'll still be the same person around the place and on the field. You're not going to see too many changes.
Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
