Manchester United legend and former Sunderland manager Roy Keane has recently praised the club and its fans following their impressive start to the season. Keane, who managed Sunderland for just over two years between 2006 and 2008, has never been shy in expressing his opinions, good or bad; however, he has always held the Black Cats and their fans in the highest of esteem after taking the club from the bottom of the Championship to the title in his first season and keeping them in the Premier League upon their return.
During a recent episode of the podcast ‘The Overlap’, Keane, alongside Ian Wright, Gary Neville, and former Lioness and Sunderland fan Jill Scott discussed the standout performers of the current season.
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“Best in The World” Roy Keane on Sunderland Fans
When Sunderland came up in the conversation, Keane was quick to praise Sunderland, their new signing and captain, Granit Xhaka, and their fans when they came up in the debate. Scott, Wright, and Neville were the first to give their opinion, but Keane was ready to lend his voice to the conversation.
First, Gary Neville asked for the shocks of the season so far. He said: “Player, club, Sunderland maybe? Or player?” Jill Scott was the first to respond, saying: “Sunderland are doing so well.”
“Player, club, Sunderland maybe? Or player?” Jill Scott responded, saying: “Sunderland are doing so well.”
Wright continued: “I think, you know what, we’re mentioning Sunderland. I’ve mentioned Xhaka. Because he’s come there, right?” Keane cut in with a short verdict on the midfielder: “Great appetite.” Wright continued, “He’s gone there. He knows the Premier League. He’s gone there to a club that they don’t expect much, but they kind of just want what they want from the players. And for him to go and kind of be the heart of it in what he does, because he’s that fiery cat. He’s a driven guy. He’s very much in the leadership groups.”
“Best in The World”
Keane then stepped in: “If you’re playing for Sunderland, Wrighty, and you turn up and you put a shift in, Sunderland fans are the best in the world. Players put a shift in. The other night, they weren’t great. Everton should have been two or three below. But if you dig in at Sunderland and you show up, they’re fighting.”
Sunderland face the Gunners at a sold-out Stadium of Light on Saturday evening, and although it will be a tough task to beat the league leaders, the Black Cats, backed by their passionate fan,s will be doing all they can to finish the game with three points and potentially sit second in the table.
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Featured image taken at Wembley by Barry Dixon