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Roy Keane's brutal one-word assessment of Chelsea star in Micah Richards chat says it all
Roy Keane went in on one Chelsea player after their dismal season ended against Newcastle.
Frank Lampard reviews Chelsea's draw with Newcastle
Manchester United icon Roy Keane dismissed fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards and his view as he claimed that Chelsea will return to their best next season under Mauricio Pochettino, in a brutal takedown of one of the Blues’ stars. Stamford Bridge was the scene of their final Premier League game of the season, as a 1-1 draw with Newcastle confirmed a 12th-placed finish.
Without European football to contend with, Richards backed Chelsea under Pochettino to contend for the league title. The Manchester City hero insisted that the arrival of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig in addition to another striker and the emergence of Wesley Fofana will be crucial in their development.
Richards said: "I think Chelsea are going to be really good next season under Poch. Top four, challenging maybe a little bit more. The players that they’ve got, Christopher Nkunku coming in. They need a striker, they’ll get that sorted, but I think Chelsea will be challenging big next season."
He continued by stating that Fofana has the potential to become a key player under Pochettino, before Keane then quipped “Who?!” as he shook his head in disbelief and later added: “He’s been dreadful, he’s been dreadful.”
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Jamie Carragher then bemoaned his injury record as a reason for a disappointing campaign. "He’s always injured!” He said. “I think [Enzo] Fernandez has got great pedigree. The goalkeeper is a problem, they’ve got no striker, [Nkunku] might come in and make a difference, Mykhaylo Mudryk has obviously come in for a lot of money, he’s got pedigree but…"
Keane’s bewilderment at Richards’ Fofana suggestion speaks volumes over the young French defender’s first season at Chelsea, having arrived from Leicester for £75million last summer. The 22-year-old has made just 12 league starts in an injury-ravaged campaign, but some high-profile errors have also contributed to a year that he will look to improve upon.
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������️ "Chelsea top four"
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 28, 2023
Micah Richards says Chelsea will be challenging more next season ������ pic.twitter.com/wdTUlIdjVA
Fofana himself was unable to find the reason for Chelsea’s difficult season, but remains determined to turn the situation around. "It's difficult for everybody because you see Chelsea in this position, and for sure everybody is not happy," he said earlier this month.
"But it's football. Some seasons, you are good. Some seasons, you are bad. Everybody is staying focused for next season now, to train more and push more to return to a high level. It's difficult [to explain]. New [owners] coming, new players coming, new coaches. In the Premier League, every team is strong and you don't have time. You play in the Champions League as well, so it's difficult.
"I don't know exactly why it's a bad season but, for sure, it's the players, it's the club, it's everybody. It's not just the coaches coming and going, it's not just the [owner], it's not just the new players. It's everybody. We are the same team. When it's bad, everybody is bad."