Pablo Counago hits back at former boss Roy Keane’s criticism

In response to Roy Keane’s criticism of Spanish striker Pablo Counago, the 35-year-old, who now plies his trade for Finnish outfit FC Honka, has revealed that the statements made by the Aston Villa and Republic Ireland assistant manager are not the truth.

The duo’s former club Ipswich Town currently lie in the last Championship play-off position, and are 11/2 with Coral to secure promotion back to the Premier League.

Counago said of Keane: “It seems like he needs to criticise players, managers and directors etc to keep selling books as he is not able to do anything else in football.”

Speaking about his former club, Counago continued: “The love and respect I feel for ITFC and its fans is something he will never feel.

“I always tried my best with the Blues, I felt so loved there, Ipswich is and will always be in my best memories.

“I could say lots of awful things about [Keane] but I don’t feel right speaking about him, I feel sorry for him. That’s why whatever he says about me I don’t take offence, even though he’s not telling the truth about me.

“It is a very sad ending for a person that was so big as a player.”

Counago once said a confrontation with the Irishman led him to criticising his credentials as a manager, though it is perhaps Keane’s influence that has given Aston Villa much needed steel this season, with the west Midlands outfit 7/2 to secure a top 10 finish.

“As I told him once, I think he is a complete mess as a football manager. As he has said in his book, he wanted to hit me, but behind his appearance there’s a coward.

“I just hope he can find happiness in his life as, in my opinion, being that miserable must be very mentally draining.”