Gary Neville claimed that he ‘can’t believe’ Roy Keane thought Harry Kane fouled Thiago Silva during Tottenham’s defeat at Chelsea on Sunday, as he told Sky Sports.
Just before the half-time break, Kane was punished for pushing the Chelsea defender when he put the ball into the back of the net, even though it was a slight touch, with VAR backing up the on-field call to rule out the goal.
It was a huge moment in the game because it prevented Spurs from opening the scoring and possibly changing the course of the game.
In the end, Chelsea, for the fourth time this season, wiped the floor with their London rivals.
To rub salt into Tottenham wounds, it was Silva who also got on the scoresheet, alongside Hakim Ziyech.
Sitting in the Sky studios, Keane made it clear that ‘Gary was wrong’ in his assessment that the goal should have stood because he felt, at the pace Silva was running out, the slightest of touch put him off balance.
And, as a result, the referee was ‘100% right’ to disallow the goal.
For many, many years, Neville shared a dressing room with the in-your-face and forthright, Keane, and he couldn’t believe what he was saying following his comments.
“I wish I had met that Roy Keane 20 years ago,” said Neville. “The mellow and reflective, Roy Keane.
“But he said ‘it was a foul’. I can’t believe Roy Keane would ever think that was a push or a foul because I think, if it was the other way, would you want a penalty?”
Foul or no foul, the decision was made by the referee and Spurs still had plenty of time to turn the result towards their direction.
But, just like the other three occasions this season, they were conceding the first goal and also failing to score against Thomas Tuchel’s men.
Antonio Conte has been in the dugout for three of those defeats, with the other coming when Nuno Espirito Santo was in charge of the north London club.
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