Sport

Keane: United let me down
by Oli Skehan , 05 April 2008

Roy Keane

For many years Roy Keane was a name synonymous with Manchester United and the glory associated with the club. Despite the fact the Corkman was treated like a God at Old Trafford, his departure still leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

Keane feels that he was let down and betrayed by those at Manchester United who believed his services were no longer required, and even though he is now successfully managing Sunderland, his days in the famous colours of Manchester United are somewhat overshadowed by the treatment he received in the latter stages of his time at the club.

"The day I left United, in hindsight, I should have stopped playing really," Keane told the Irish Times. "I lost the love of the game that Friday morning. I thought football is cruel, life is cruel. It takes two to tango also. I am fully responsible for my own actions but some things are wrong.

"I left on a Friday and they told me certain things before I left that day. I was told the following week I couldn't sign for another club. I had been led to believe I could. There were certain things I was told at certain meetings that were basic lies.

"That was part of the exit plans, I am convinced. Especially with my pride, I wasn't going to accept that. They had a statement prepared and they were thanking me for 11 and a half years of service.

"I had to remind the manager [Manchester United chief executive] David Gill I had been there 12 and a half years. I think that might have been part of the plan.

"Then the financial stuff was mentioned. I was thinking, my God. I am happy to leave. I won't go down that road. A week later they announced £70 or £80 million profit after telling me I hadn't played for six weeks and so they weren't prepared to do this and that. I told David Gill I had broken my foot playing for Manchester United against Liverpool. Pretty sad.

"I look back and think I should have said this and I should have said that. It is like Mick McCarthy at the World Cup. I always think when he said if you don't have respect for me you can't play for me, I should have said to him what I felt. I am not playing for you I am playing for Ireland. It is easy to be wise afterwards."

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Comments

MUFC - 05 April 2008 20:25: You let yourself, and all the man utd fans who adored you, down by stabbing the club in the back, right now and back then. You engineered your own way out as you did at the world cup even though I supported you then I have somewhat differing views now about the whole situation. You disrespected McCarthy in much the same way you disrespected Ferguson by going to the media to vent your frustrations and thus under mine the managers involved. If you have a problem say it to their face straight up outside the media spot light don't go running to the media like a coward. Your not the man I once thought you were you're like all the rest of them only in it for themselves.; Report this to a moderator

CHAINSAW - 05 April 2008 17:24: Keano was one of the best midfield generals I've seen in the Premiership (perhaps the best player to play in the Premiership) and I was sad at how he left the club... His huge engine and desire to win has not been replaced... and I do believe that behind the scenes dark moves do go one for whatevere reason... I believe he spoke out voicing what the fans were saying and was hung, drawn and quartered because it was convenient to do so... Hopefully a line can be drawn between those dark days and players like Keane, Cantona, Solskjaer etc can play a big part in the continued success and growth of the Red Devils... Come on you Reds!!!!; Report this to a moderator

ezzy - 05 April 2008 16:02: at the time keano was right, the players bought didnt perform at a level required of them, they were only worth the price man utd sold of them because that was the amount of potential shown by the those players, fergie was right in buying those because they where scouted by top scouts at man utd and they showed what they could do at the world cup...man utd will never have a player as good as roy keane,; Report this to a moderator

simmy - 05 April 2008 15:36: shut up roy get over it man utd r better now with out you; Report this to a moderator

Dan - 05 April 2008 15:02: Roy Keane came out and under mined the manager with that interview on MUTV he said that the players fergie had bought aren't good enough 9how wrong he was). If fergie had stood by and done nothing he would have lost the respect of the dressing room and once that goes its all over. i thought Keane came out and apologised for his behaviour now he is trying to portray himself as an angel. He was and is my all time favourite player and that will never change but he needs to swallow his pride accept what he did was wrong and never speak of it again. I thought this stint as a manager would have given him clarity into why he had to be sacked the way he was and not everything is black and white like he sees it but obviously he has much more to learn. Club comes 1st and that will never change.; Report this to a moderator

aww - 05 April 2008 13:21: guys i was dispointed the way united and treated keane at the end i really was. i dislike mccarthy i dislike that man so much after what happened if keane had of been their we could have made the world cup final that year. i do; Report this to a moderator

jimyaw - 05 April 2008 13:09: Jay get real how many players dose he have on his staff now 100 or more and you want him to look after the welfare of 1000s of explayers . Roy is going to have to make the same decisions in the summer . still love you Roy; Report this to a moderator

Greg - 05 April 2008 13:00: Keano you are and always will be a United legend.; Report this to a moderator

katie young - 05 April 2008 12:33: No matter what you think of Roy, he did provide many years of loyal service to a winning side, and as with Becks, Ruud and so many others, Sir simply decided to throw him aside like so much rubbish. In Fergie world there is no such thing as loyalty (Giggs watch your back). I can't help but feel for Roy in this case.; Report this to a moderator

Rob Cieka - 05 April 2008 12:16: 100 grand a week and he moans about the way he was treated after 12 years of 'service'. Go back to your stately mansion in Cheshire and cry about it Keane. Someone there might care.; Report this to a moderator

SPT - 05 April 2008 12:04: Fergie let one of the greatest utd players ever down, he treated Keane like a criminal whereas all Keane wanted for the club was success. Utds season pittered miserably out after he left that november and since hes left fergie has spent nearly 40mill on carrick and hargreaves, whose talents combined wouldnt match Keanes. An all-time Utd legend dumped because fergie couldnt take a bit of critisism.; Report this to a moderator

big steve - 05 April 2008 11:06: Bo HO poor you. How unfair do you think all the players you hospitalised or refs you abused feel. Your just a loud mouth bully who can t keep your own unimportant opinions to him self . Resiign from football all together and start a chat show . Do us all a favour.; Report this to a moderator

tmc - 05 April 2008 10:57: still a united legend though; Report this to a moderator

jay - 05 April 2008 10:38: i always thought alex ferguson was nice to his loyal players whilst they were there but as soon as they left he couldnt care about what they had done for the club, bit of a knob if you ask me; Report this to a moderator

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