Former United star critical of Hodgson.
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Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has criticised England manager Roy Hodgson for his use of a sports psychologist at this summer’s World Cup, according to the Daily Mirror.
ITV pundit Keane feels that Hodgson himself should be the one the players look to for help with their nerves in tense situations such as penalty shoot-outs, and has hailed his old managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough as the best sports psychologists he worked with.
Steve Peters, who has worked with the likes of Sir Chris Hoy, Ronnie O’Sullivan and with England captain Steven Gerrard at Liverpool, was brought in by the FA to help the players at this summer’s tournament in Brazil.
While Keane feels it is good to be open-minded about using new and modern techniques in the game, he does feel that Hodgson should not be overly reliant on someone else to help manage that side of his players’ game.
“The sports psychologist should be the manager,” the former Republic of Ireland midfielder said.
“Brian Clough was the best sports psychologist for me and Alex Ferguson was good.
“I heard Peters speak at Wembley two years ago and we should be open-minded and not knock it.
“If it helps a younger player or helps a player out in Brazil, who is getting frustrated or is carrying a knock, that’s fine.
“But, for God’s sake, don’t be hanging your hat on him (Peters).”
The Three Lions tasted defeat in their opening game at the World Cup as they were beaten 2-1 by Italy on Saturday night – the same opponents that knocked them out of Euro 2012 two summers ago.
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