“Embarrassing.”
Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool both had a positive week in the Champions League. Spurs came from two goals down against Juventus to secure a 2-2 draw, and take advantage of the tie on away goals ahead of the second-leg at Wembley. The Italian champions had conceded just one goal in their previous 16 games before Tuesday’s match, and had not conceded in 2018 until Harry Kane rounded Gianluigi Buffon to score.
Christian Eriksen’s free-kick goal 20 minutes from full-time put Spurs in control of the tie, and they are now arguably favourites to go through to the quarter-finals after an impressive performance in Turin.
On Wednesday night, Liverpool effectively confirmed their place in the quarter-finals with a 5-0 victory away to Porto. The Portuguese side now need to win 6-0 in the return leg to go through. Liverpool’s front-three were all on form in the game, with Sadio Mane getting a hat-trick and Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino getting a goal each.
However, despite their impressive European performances this week, Roy Keane reckons the failure of both clubs to win trophies in recent seasons is “embarrassing.”
Liverpool last won a trophy in 2012, when they beat Cardiff City in the League Cup final. Tottenham’s last trophy was also the League Cup, when they beat Chelsea in the 2008 final.
“For a club the size of Liverpool and Tottenham, one trophy in 10 years is pretty embarrassing,” Keane said.
“I know the Champions League has taken over now, particularly with the money behind it, but to be successful, to be a big club you need to win trophies… Clubs like Liverpool and Spurs should be able to qualify for the Champions League and win a League Cup or an FA Cup.
“These clubs should get to the knock-out stages of the Champions League and win an FA Cup or a League Cup as well. Of course they should, that should go hand in hand.”
You can watch Keane here:
No holding back… again.
There is no denying Keane’s main point but it is one he has previously mentioned, and mentioned again. To brand both sides’ recent trophy returns as “embarrassing” within hours of two impressive European could strike some as a bit much.
