FORMER MANCHESTER United captain Roy Keane has been touted in some circles as a future Manchester United boss and has even been linked with the job at the end of the season, but Keane insists that the opportunity was never going to come his way.
Keane spoke with Sky Sports colleague Micah Richards for a show on Sky Sports called "Driving home for Christmas". He was asked by Richards about taking the job and Keane questioned why the prospect of him taking over at Old Trafford was "a joke", as he insisted he could have done the job.
🚨 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀: Episode 2 🚘@MicahRichards & Roy Keane discuss the title contenders 🏆
They revisit how Micah ‘burst’ onto the scene and they compare how many career goals they each scored ⚽️
Plus find out what band gets Roy moving! 🕺🤣 pic.twitter.com/9gbiSIx5rs— Sky Bet (@SkyBet) December 21, 2021
He does however think that his reputation for falling out with players is something that could cost him.
Richards joked that Keane should get the United job, which annoyed the Corkman.
Why would that be a joke? You said something about me falling out with players, but that is what managers do," said Keane.
"Why jump to these conclusions? As a manager you are meant to challenge people. Managers do that.
"Obviously you can't fall out with everyone, but there is no doubt in my mind that, and I don't mean at Man United.... I have managed in the Premier League."
Richard suggested the "joke" for Keane would be trying to get David De Gea and Harry Maguire onside after being highly critical of the duo in his role on Sky, but he has a quick answer to that.
"The first thing that I'd do when I'd walk into the club would be to grab hold of those two and say: 'I have been really critical of the two of you, prove me wrong'," he stated.
"That is the end of the conversation. If they get upset, no problem. Players get upset all the time. It is not about players liking the manager. The most important thing is that you hope the players will respect the manager."
Keane also suggested Pep Guardiola's Manchester City will win the league even though he never thought it during the season opener.
"I didn't write off City (last season), but I said they lost their mojo," he added. "Then they won the league like a doddle. I know they put in the hard work, but they won it from United being second. I'd never bet against City, I've learned my lesson from last year.
"It doesn't mean Liverpool and Chelsea can't pip them to the title, but Pep's the man. When I look at all the managers and he's the best.
"You look at Pep's CV and people say 'he's got the best players', but you still have to manage them, find a style of play. If you were going to pick a team to watch, it'd be Man City."
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