GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has welcomed Robbie Keane’s deadline day move to Celtic on the basis that it will provide the 29-year-old with opportunities to play first team football but the Italian has again bemoaned the lack of opportunities that some other Irish players are getting at other clubs.
“At the moment, English football is strong and where he was, it was difficult for Robbie so it is better for him to play. He must play and for us it is also important that he plays.”
The Italian reckons both parties will benefit from the loan deal, which is to last until the summer, but doesn’t feel that, for all his undoubted talent Keane can make enough of an impact to change the course of this year’s SPL title race.
“Robbie will improve the Celtic side,” he says, “because he’s a fantastic player but it’s a lot for him to do on his own. What is the gap now on Rangers? It’s up to 10 points, and for me that’s already too much. Rangers have a very strong and tough team and I fear that 10 points is too much for Celtic to get back.”
Asked whether he was surprised that Keane had to make the move, Trapattoni said it was a wider problem that affects many of the Irish team, one that he had no control over. “For me it is interesting that a player plays for Ireland but does not play for his club. But what can I do? I see many games but (Glenn) Whelan does not play. Why is (Keith) Andrews not playing? Steven Reid does not play. I do not even think about (Shane) Long or the younger players.
“And I cannot speak about the English team managers or the other managers because that is for newspapers,” he added. “But for Robbie this is good. Every game for him is an opportunity. And I know when he does not play, he suffers. I think in this month it will be important for him.
“Football is football – in Scotland or London or Tottenham and the manager at Celtic knows how to play Robbie. He is a great player to have. Robbie is a striker, is a midfielder, he is different. He can play everywhere. He can score goals and can smell goals. He has got the instinct.”
