West Ham striker Michail Antonio has accused Roy Keane of having a “dinosaur mentality” after his criticism of current players hosting podcasts.
Antonio has co-hosted the BBC's Footballer's Football Podcast since December 2021, a role he initially shared with Callum Wilson before Fulham captain Tom Cairney succeeded the team. Newcastle striker.
manchester united Legend Keane did not reference any player in particular, but stated that players creating media content can act as a distraction.
“I think (podcasts) can be a distraction for a player, especially if you're coming off a loss and you're into the next day and everyone's having a bit of a laugh,” Keane told the Stick. to the football podcast.
“I don't think you should laugh for a week or two if you've been hit.”
Antonio used his platform to respond to Keane's opinion and claims that generational differences are the reason why footballers live contrasting lives compared to the Irishman's playing days.
He western ham The striker added: “It's a dinosaur mentality because when he (Keane) played, every coach, every fan, everyone constantly said: 'Focus on your football. Go to sleep with a football in your arms, the only thing that they allow you.” “What you have to think about is football. Your wife takes care of your children, don't play with your children: football.”
“That's what it was when he played. Obviously, over time the players who played with him became bankrupt because all they thought about was football and that was it.
“Now obviously footballers focus on their football, they can do football, but they can also focus on other things: business, fashion, some are rappers now. People focus on other things.”
“If I have time to do this, why shouldn't I?” he continued. “With the podcast I understand that if you get hit on the weekend, which I did, it's not about being sad for two weeks because there will be another game next week. You have to forget what happened last weekend and make it better next week following.
“That's why a lot of players struggle with mental health issues because people tell them they have to fight for two whole weeks because they got hit at the weekend. No, you have to deal with it. You're sad when you leave and for that night .
“I drove home on Sunday with no music, just thinking about the game. I couldn't think straight, I could only think about the game. I was embarrassed.”
Fulham star and co-presenter Cairney also weighed in on the debate, adding: “Talking after a defeat is difficult, it's tough, but social media didn't even exist in his (Keane's) time. It's a whole new generation and you know.” You could argue that the players of our day are more professional than those of their time.
“Imagine how many went to the pub after a game or how many were drunk. Many of them had a few drinks every weekend and retired at a younger age compared to today's players.
“I understand what you're saying, but times have changed. It's not easy to talk after a defeat.”