Roy Keane’s Podcast Criticism Slammed by West Ham’s Antonio
Manchester United legend Roy Keane’s recent remarks about footballers having podcasts during their careers have drawn criticism from West Ham forward Michail Antonio.
Keane Questions Player Focus
Keane suggested that podcasts could be a distraction for players, particularly after a defeat. “I think that [podcasts] can be a distraction for a player, particularly if you’re on the back of a defeat,” Keane said. “Everyone is having a bit of a laugh. I don’t think you should laugh for a week or two if you’ve been beaten.”
Michail Antonio Fires Back: “Dinosaur Mentality”
Antonio, who co-hosts the BBC’s Footballers’ Football Podcast alongside Callum Wilson and Tom Cairney, took aim at Keane’s views, calling them “dinosaur mentality.”
“It’s a dinosaur mentality,” Antonio said. “When he [Keane] was playing, everyone told players to ‘focus on your football.’ They said things like ‘go to sleep with a football in your arms’ and ‘don’t play with your kids.'”
“Players who played with him [Keane] went bankrupt because all they did was think about football,” Antonio continued. “Now, footballers can focus on their football but can also focus on other things: business, fashion, even music. People focus on other things.”
He further defended his podcast involvement, highlighting that it doesn’t interfere with his commitment on the pitch.
“If I have time to do this [the podcast], then why shouldn’t I?” Antonio said. “With the podcast, I understand that if we lose on the weekend, it’s not about being sad for two weeks. There’s another game coming next week. You have to forget what happened and focus on improving next time.”
Michail Antonio’s Season and Upcoming Clash
Michail Antonio has battled injuries throughout the 2023/24 season, managing only six goals in 28 appearances for West Ham. The Hammers will look to bounce back from a recent defeat when they host Liverpool this Saturday. A strong finish in the final four games could secure a top-half finish for David Moyes’ side.
