has criticised star Guglielmo Vicario for his role in ’s winning goal, believing Pep Guardiola’s side targeted their ‘weak’ goalkeeper.
City sealed their place in the fifth round of the competition after securing their first ever win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday night with a 1-0 victory.
Nathan Ake scored the only goal of the game after 88 minutes, prodding home after Vicario was unable to hold onto Kevin de Bruyne’s corner.
Ruben Dias stood in front of the Spurs goalkeeper but Tottenham’s appeals for a foul were waved away.
Former Manchester United captain Keane was not convinced Vicario had been fouled, insisting the Italy international had failed to ‘command his area’.
‘The goalkeeper has got to command that six yard area,’ Keane told ITV Sport.
‘A goalkeeping coach I used to work with years ago, he used to say – and I loved it – you come with violence. You come and attack that space and clear people out of the way. You have got to let them know you are there. If defenders are backing into you, be physical. Command that area.’
City failed to trouble Spurs in a series of similar corner kick routines leading for the goal. Their determination eventually paid off, with Keane believing the defending champions were determined to exploit Vicario having identified him as a ‘weak’ link.
‘They had worked on that, they knew there was a weakness,’ Keane continued.
‘We were getting frustrated with it too, we thought City might try a few shot corners but they persevered with and eventually got it right. They looked at that goalkeeper and said, “right he will be weak in that area.”’
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou meanwhile opted not to contest the referee’s decision to allow the goal to stand.
‘I’m sure they had a good look at it and the referee and VAR didn’t see anything wrong with it. The decision was made and we have to accept it.’ he said.
On Tottenham’s performance, he added: ‘It was a tough game against a top side. We worked hard to stay in the game and conceded so late. But they were the better side.
‘They make you suffer at points so we had to work hard and for the most part we defended well. It was just too tough a test for us.
We continue on with the way we’ve been going, it doesn’t mean today changes anything for us.’
