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'I don't care if it's Alex Ferguson or the Pope' - Keane still holds grudge against ex-Man United boss

The former Red Devils captain has hit out at the Scot in an explosive interview with Off The Ball, suggesting some of his claims were ‘nonsense’.

Off The Ball / YouTube

ROY KEANE HAS denied Alex Ferguson had Manchester United’s best interests at heart as he reignited his feud with the former Red Devils manager.

Keane is one of United’s most decorated former captains with seven Premier League titles and a Champions League crown among other honours, but a falling out with Ferguson saw him leave Manchester in 2005.

Ferguson was also critical of Keane in his autobiography released in 2013, and the latter has often been critical of the legendary manager.

Corkman Keane took aim at Ferguson again on Wednesday as he discussed his final days at United 14 years ago.

“I wouldn’t forgive Ferguson. The media spin, how I apparently upset everybody, it was all nonsense,” Keane told a live Off The Ball event in Dublin last night.

“I don’t care if it’s Alex Ferguson or the Pope, you’re going to defend yourself.

People talk about Ferguson’s man-management. Nonsense. People said he always had the best interests of Manchester United at heart. Darren Ferguson, his son, won a league medal. He was very lucky.”

Keane joined United from Nottingham Forest in 1993, going on to win 17 trophies before moving to Scottish giants Celtic.

The 48-year-old has since managed Sunderland and Ipswich Town, while he also served as an assistant for Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

soccer-barclays-premier-league-manchester-united-v-sunderland-old-trafford Keane and Ferguson when they met as opposing managers. PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

Ferguson, meanwhile, led United to their last Premier League title in 2012-13 prior to his retirement at Old Trafford.

Though delivering plenty of silverware during his tenure, Keane has also previously claimed that the manager was self-interested. 

“People say he stood by me in difficult times,” Keane told the Sunday Times. 

“But not when I was 34, not when I was coming towards the end. All of a sudden it was, ‘Off you go, Roy’.

“People say Ferguson always does what is right for Man United. I don’t think he does. I think he does what is right for him.”

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    Mute COYBIG
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    Oct 8th 2017, 8:12 PM

    Hardly world beaters, especially going forward

    108
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    Mute Dave O'Hanlon
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    Oct 8th 2017, 8:25 PM

    @COYBIG: two evenly matched teams tomorrow so

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    Mute prop joe
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    Oct 8th 2017, 8:55 PM

    I think travelling to Georgia will affect them. It’s a long journey. We have a chance.

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    Mute Patrick O'Sullivan
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    Oct 8th 2017, 9:28 PM

    @prop joe: good pt. I had not considered that. I think we will beat them.

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    Mute Emmett McNamara
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    Oct 8th 2017, 9:20 PM

    Havent lost to these since 92. No Bale wine rate since 2012 is 9%.

    Believe

    Coybig

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    Mute King Kenny
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    Oct 8th 2017, 8:30 PM

    We will beat this shower tomorrow COYBIG! The welsh think the only have to turn up to beat us!

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    Mute Jane
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    Oct 8th 2017, 9:36 PM

    Whats the team photo about?

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    Mute Eanna Costello
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    Oct 8th 2017, 10:01 PM

    @Jane: It’s something Wales have been doing for a couple of years now as a bit of a joke, they deliberately take terrible team photos. Go back through all their qualifiers and you’ll see some with one player kneeling and the rest standing, and the opposite. Leaving gaps like that etc. No idea what it’s about.

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    Mute Jane
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    Oct 8th 2017, 10:16 PM

    @Eanna Costello: I’d never noticed it before, thanks

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    Mute David Kelly
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    Oct 9th 2017, 2:14 PM

    @Eanna Costello: I think they did one bad photo by mistake and just kept it going then for a laugh

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    Mute Adrian Costigan
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    Oct 9th 2017, 5:33 PM
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    Mute Saul Hamilton Evans
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    Oct 8th 2017, 10:45 PM

    Seems like you guys think you have this in the bag already.

    To put some perspective here – Wales have lost 3 games since 2013 when Bale wasn’t playing. Two of those were friendlies when other players including Ramsey were also not available, and the other one was after we’d already qualified for the Euros.

    We haven’t lost a game since the 2016 Euros Semi final, we’ve kept a clean sheet for the last 3 games which we won, and tomorrow night we’re playing at home.

    So despite the dismissive remarks above, Wales may pull off a huge upset.

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    Mute Paul P O'Sullivan
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    Oct 8th 2017, 10:57 PM

    @Saul Hamilton Evans: “not world beaters” “evenly matched” “we have a chance”. How is that us thinking its in the bag or dismissive of Wales? I think nearly all Irish fans thinks Wales are favourites but as said above, we go to Cardiff with a chance.

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    Mute TheJournalAsGaeilge
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    Oct 8th 2017, 11:13 PM

    @Paul P O’Sullivan: is focain bómán é.
    He’s a clown

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