Former Manchester United captain and club legend Roy Keane has blasted Chelsea players, branding their attitude ‘unprofessional’
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has lambasted Chelsea players for their ‘unprofessional’ behaviour and accusing them of ‘downing tools’ once more in the race for the top four finish in the Premier League, according to reports from the Mirror.
Antonio Conte’s side endured a difficult period since the turn of the year, as they struggled to get positive results. They survived a scare against Norwich City in the third round of the FA Cup and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Arsenal at the semi-final stage.
The reigning Premier League champions were also beaten convincingly by Bournemouth and Watford in the league games earlier this month, which increased the weight of the speculations that Conte could be on his way out of the club. However, Chelsea did get back to winning ways, when they defeated West Bromwich Albion 3-0 on Monday night, alleviating some pressure on the manager and the team.
The result sent them back into the top four in the table, with the Blues now occupying the fourth position, just a point above fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. But, they face a difficult task to hold on to their place and retain their Champions League status for the next season though.
Roy Keane blasts 'unprofessional' Chelsea stars for 'downing tools' – and tips them… https://t.co/O6F7ZpzSNX #mirror
— Sport Right Now (@Sport_RightNow) February 16, 2018
And Keane, known for his brash, outspoken nature, blasted the players’ attitude, drawing parallels to their behaviour soon after they had won the Premier League title under Jose Mourinho, that resulted in the Portuguese’s sacking the subsequent season. The Manchester United legend also went on to claim that the Blues will struggle in their upcoming UEFA Champions League tie against Barcelona.
“Chelsea will struggle against Barca,” said the Irishman on ITV, as quoted by the Mirror. “It is so unprofessional from these Chelsea lads.
“They’ve won the league in the last few years and then down tools under different managers. Shocking behaviour.”
It hasn’t been the most ideal of the campaigns for the Blues, following their Premier League title triumph last season, under Conte. The former Juventus and Italy boss expressed his unhappiness over the lack of quality in his squad time and again, which has cast him under bad lights with the Chelsea board.
The performance against West Brom this week did ease some pressure on the Italian, but it is hard to imagine that Conte will be in charge of the club come the end of the season, given that the friction between him and the board has continued to rise.
And it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Keane does make a valid point, that the players’ under-par performances this term, their inability to stand up and deliver when needed has played a major part in the club’s current plight.