Roy Keane and Gary Neville both singled out the extra role that one player took up during Manchester United and Manchester City’s Premier League clash at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s men climbed to eighth place in the Premier League table on Sunday after Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Manchester United in the derby encounter.
Jeremy Doku set up Phil Foden for City’s first-half opener before the 23-year-old winger picked up his second assist for striker Erling Haaland after the break.
Erling Haaland ensured that City secured all three points on the weekend, with the City striker beating Altay Bayindir for the second time in the second half at the Etihad.
United’s defeat to City in the first Manchester derby of the 2025-26 campaign was another blow for manager Ruben Amorim, who has faced early criticism this season.
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty ImagesRoy Keane and Gary Neville felt strongly about what Erling Haaland showed for Man City against Man Utd at the Etihad
Erling Haaland made way late in the second half of Sunday’s 3-0 win for Manchester City, with manager Pep Guardiola bringing attacker Oscar Bobb on in his place.
The 25-year-old Norwegian striker caught the eye of Roy Keane, who insisted that Haaland deserved praise for playing his role “defensively” in City’s victory.
“We know Haaland’s strengths,” Keane said on Sky Sports, as per BBC Sport.
“You have one of the best strikers in the world running from the halfway line and there was never any doubt he was going to finish it. He probably could have scored a few more.”
He added: “You talk about a team player; you have to give him praise for coming back and doing a good job defensively.”
Gary Neville, much like Manchester United legend Keane, praised Haaland for the same reasons as his ex-club teammate and ‘appreciated’ his defensive work rate.
“He [Erling Haaland] has been [an] absolute standout,” he said on Sky Sports.
“I do want to mention those clearances he made, as an ex-defender, you really appreciate when your striker gets back to help out. He’s been outstanding.”
Roy Keane and Gary Neville’s praise for Erling Haaland shows Benjamin Sesko what to expect from the Premier League
Benjamin Sesko made his first Premier League start for the Red Devils on Sunday, but the United striker was unable to make a real impact against City in the derby.
The 22-year-old Slovenian has not scored since his August move, with Benjamin Sesko coming off the pitch in the 80th minute in the 3-0 defeat at the Etihad.
Speaking after the Premier League result on the weekend, United manager Ruben Amorim touched on the “time” it will take Sesko to adapt to the Premier League.
“He is going to feel that he is in the strongest league in the world,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“We can help Sesko to use his qualities, but it will take time.”
United are now 14th in the Premier League table and Amorim’s men are back in action on Saturday evening against rivals Chelsea at Old Trafford.