Keane exit proves Ferguson still reigns - Quinn
Niall Quinn believes the exit of former Republic of Ireland team-mate Roy Keane from Manchester United was proof that Alex Ferguson still rules the roost at Old Trafford.
Quinn, who described Keane as a “difficult genius”, felt Ferguson had simply had enough of the midfielder, who has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career.
Quinn, now a pundit for Sky Sports, has had a strained relationship with Keane following the midfielder’s walk-out from the Irish camp before the 2002 World Cup and his no-show for the former Arsenal and Sunderland man’s testimonial earlier that year.
Quinn credited United’s win over Chelsea to Ferguson’s managerial abilities rather than the “public humiliation” delivered by Keane in a shelved MUTV programme which he felt left the players “lifeless” and “shell-shocked”.
“The first game after (the interview) was against Lille and it was the most lifeless Manchester United performance I have seen in a long, long time,” said Quinn.
“Lille were a million miles better and there was no spark, no drive. The players were just shell-shocked against Lille.
“Sir Alex Ferguson’s interview afterwards embraced his players, he said he was proud of them, that they tried their hardest and that they were going to be OK.
“What happened between then and the victory at the weekend against Chelsea was vintage Ferguson for me. He closed ranks, there were no media stories - good, bad or indifferent – and he got the players up for it again and they had a fantastic and famous victory.”
He added: “Some people might say ‘Keane gave them the rollicking, that’s why they played well against Chelsea’ but you’ve got to work out who’s in charge there and who makes the decisions.
“And when it came to the crunch, Sir Alex has said ‘OK, enough’s enough, you’re not getting a contract’ and (Keane) has decided he doesn’t want to stay. It’s a sad end to what was a great thing, but that’s football.”
Quinn believes Keane’s undoubted ability made him a tough player for any manager to handle.
“He is a difficult genius,” Quinn added.
“I remember with Ireland teams the manager used to say ‘when I have him on the pitch, he’s brilliant, off the pitch it’s always a worry’.
“He used to come in two days later than all the rest of us and got privileges - the kind of thing you do to protect somebody as gifted and important to the team as him.
“It came back and exploded in Mick McCarthy’s face (in 2002) and I suppose Sir Alex Ferguson has decided enough is enough.
“It’s a pity it ends this way – a shock departure and driving out of the training ground looking glum. There’s no room for nostalgia and certainly Roy Keane doesn’t do nostalgia.
“He has been probably the most compelling character in the Premiership since it began, and he has been one of the most successful. I’d say probably there is still life left in him yet.”
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