Michail Antonio has admitted that he’s in disagreement with Manchester United legend Roy Keane over a recent opinion.
Roy Keane isn’t known for his opinions being popular, with the Irishman often rubbing against the grain of popular thinking.
Now, he’s done it again with comments that have seen Michail Antonio hit back at the legendary Manchester United midfielder.
On a recent episode of the Stick to Football podcast, Keane was discussing distractions for players in the modern world.
One of these distractions is podcasts which he doesn’t think current players should be doing, he explained why.
“But imagine you’re coming off a really big loss against a rival, then you got to go in on Tuesday and do a podcast about it, you know?”
A controversial opinion that Antonio didn’t agree with in the slightest.
Michail Antonio disagrees with Roy Keane
On this week’s edition of the Footballers Football Podcast, Hammers forward, Antonio, fired back at this comment from Keane.
Speaking with Tom Cairney who asked Antonio his thoughts on the view of Keane, the striker labelled the pundit a “dinosaur”.
“It’s dinosaur mentality. No, I’m not accepting that, it’s dinosaur mentality, because when he was playing, every manager, and every fan constantly said to focus on your football.
“‘Go to sleep with a football in your arms, the only thing you’re allowed to think about is football.’ That’s what it was when he was playing, and then obviously in time, what 70% of players that played with him, went bankrupt because all they did was think about football.
“Footballers now are focussing on their football, they can do their football but they can also focus on other things, their businesses. So if I have time to do this, why shouldn’t I?
“With the podcast, I understand that if you’ve got battered at the weekend, which I did, it’s not a thing about being sad for two weeks, because there’s another game coming, you’re meant to forget about it and make it better the next week.”
Both have a point but we’re inclined to agree with Antonio
Yes, Keane is right in the fact that after a big loss, it’s hardly a good look to be laughing about it on a podcast.
However, to prevent footballers from having a voice and creating their own brand as a person while playing is a ludicrous suggestion.
As Antonio explains, the podcast isn’t something which is getting in the way of football but rather is a hobby outside of the game.
If anything it’s as professional a hobby a player could have.
From a fan perspective, it’s also hugely beneficial as it gives greater insight into the lives of players and humanizes them in a time when social media abuse is so rife.