Ahead of the crucial match that the Republic of Ireland have against Belgium, assistant manager Roy Keane justified his previous criticism towards Eden Hazard when he talked to the press about his possible Chelsea exit. Despite being a bit harsh towards the Belgian playmaker, Keane knows how dangerous he will be against his National Team but that doesn't mean he will take back what he said in the past. Keane gave a press conference ahead of next Saturday's match between both countries.
Roy Keane said this about his previous criticism towards Eden Hazard: "That [his previous criticism] is nothing personal. I would do that to anybody if I was playing with them who was talking about possibly wanting to leave all the time. It’s nothing against the lad - I think he's a talented boy. I'd like him to be in our group - he's a really, really top player. He’s had a difficult season, I suppose, but that’s because maybe he set his standards so high the previous season.
"Don’t get me the wrong way, I think he's an outstanding player, but if you'd asked me if I was playing with anybody, whether I was at Forest, Rockmount, Cobh Ramblers, and they were constantly talking - if it was true - that they wanted to leave and they had a poor attitude to training, then I would kick them in training, yes. But I have kind of done that with most players, I suppose, even lads who didn't want to leave."
Photo credit: Belgian Red Devils