Fergie in bust-up with Keane
Fergie in bust-up with Keane
Jonathan Northcroft in Hong Kong
Quote:
MANCHESTER UNITED’S preparations for the new season have been plunged under a cloud as it emerged Sir Alex Ferguson and his captain, Roy Keane, have had a public falling out. Ferguson and Keane had a furious row on the practice ground during the first week of United’s pre-season training programme in Portugal. The spat, witnessed by other players, has led to an estrangement between Keane and his manager.
The row centred on living arrangements in the Algarve, where Ferguson began United’s pre-season by taking his players on a week-long training break. Players’ families were invited along and prior to meeting up with the squad Keane had been holidaying with his wife and five children at his own villa nearby. When training began, Keane moved his family into the complex United had hired for the week but was unhappy to find arrangements there unsuitable for his young children. He moved his family back into their holiday villa — to the United manager’s considerable annoyance — and an argument ensued.
The revelation cast new light on Keane’s absence from United’s eight-day tour of Asia. Though the official reason for him not travelling with the squad to Hong Kong, China and Japan has been given as the lingering effects of a hamstring strain suffered in Portugal, Keane took part in a full training session with teammates on Thursday, 24 hours before the United party set off for the Far East. He did not appear to be suffering too many physical problems as he worked out with what colleagues described as vintage intensity, having recovered sufficiently to stay behind to complete hard running exercises afterwards.
There is now speculation that Keane’s injury, which caused him to miss friendlies against Clyde and Peterbrough, may not have been serious enough to cause him to miss the tour. That he has remained in Carrington training with United’s youngsters will inevitably be seen as Ferguson’s way of putting the midfielder in his place. Despite his almost boundless admiration for his captain, Ferguson has never brooked dissent from any player. Keane, for his part, was willing to travel if required on Friday, though he had reservations about the effect a 12-hour flight might have on his muscle strain, given his rehabilitation was incomplete.
The volcanic nature of both men’s personalities has led inevitably to fall-outs before, which have always been resolved, and there is no suggestion this one is serious enough to cause any damage that cannot be repaired to their 12-year working relationship. It is understood that their major differences have now been resolved, but tensions remain between the pair, who have spoken to one another only infrequently since.
Sources close to both men expect them to put the matter aside when United return from the Far East in eight days. But resentments may linger.
Ferguson, recently, has been speaking about signing a top-class “experienced midfielder” and his failure over the past few years to do exactly that has displeased Keane. The captain prioritises United’s cause over his own and has been urging Ferguson to find a suitable successor to himself for some time. He confronted the manager over the matter recently. Keane has just one year remaining on his United contract and is known to be considering retiring after next summer’s World Cup, in which he hopes to appear for the Republic of Ireland.
