Roy Keane has mocked Jack Grealish for theatrically going to ground in Man City’s win over Aston VIlla, comparing the England star to Olympic diver Tom Daley.
The incident came in the first half of Sunday’s clash, as Grealish won a penalty after throwing himself on the floor following minimal contact with Villa’s Jacob Ramsey.
City were awarded a penalty, which Riyad Mahrez converted to put the home side 3-0 up before half time.
Keane seemed to have a grudging respect for Grealish after the incident, as he told Sky Sports at half time: ‘You have to give the penalty, Jack was being very, very smart. Very naïve the defending from Ramsay but he does kind of catch him.
‘Jack kicks himself more than anything else. He’s more like Tom Daley but I think it is a penalty and it’s clever from Jack. He gets his body across, he knows exactly what he is doing – gives the referee almost no option but to give the penalty.’
After winning the penalty, there seemed to be some argument among the City players over who should take it before Mahrez’s eventual strike.
‘We’ve seen this with City before and I don’t like to see it,’ Keane added.
‘Gundogan as captain comes in and gets involved. There’s some sort of discussion. I suppose the most important thing is they scored the penalty. 3-0. Game over.’
Despite a second-half Ollie Watkins goal threatening to take Villa back into the game, they could not find a way back as City ran out 3-1 winners.
The only downside for the hosts will be an injury to Erling Haaland which may keep him out of their top of the table clash with Arsenal on Wednesday.
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk