Richard Keys and Roy Keane. Now there’s an unlikely friendship.
But the former Sky Sports presenter, not that he’s bitter, stood up for the Ireland legend after Alex Ferguson failed to include him among the four “world class” players he believes he managed at Old Trafford.
Ferguson claimed last week that the only genuinely globally-gifted players he coached were Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Eric Cantona and Cristiano Ronaldo.
No sign of Peter Schmeichel or Keano, and Richard Keys thinks it’s nothing short of a scandal.
In the latest of his always entertaining blog posts the Doha-based broadcaster feels there is a very simple reason for Fergie’s omission of his one time captain
“I agree with Gary Neville that Schmeichel and Keane should’ve been mentioned. Why weren’t they? Simple. Because Fergie fell out with them. But he’s not that petty is he? Er, yes, he is,” writes Keys.
Keys, who is not bitter about the manner of his departure from Sky Sports, then goes on to wax lyrical about the now legendary performance given by Keane against Juventus in the second leg of the 1999 Champions League semi final.
“There’s no doubt Keane was ‘world class’. What he did for United should never be underestimated. It certainly shouldn’t be ignored because he had the temerity to take Fergie on.
“I was there in Turin the night Keane dragged United to the Champions League final all on his own, knowing he wouldn’t play in it.”
“It was simply one of the best individual performances I’ve ever witnessed on a football pitch. Typical Keane. Magnificent. He was a leader that any team in the world would’ve been proud to have at the front of their line. That’s what made him ‘world class’ in my view.”
Keys does agree that Scholes and Ronaldo are world class but disputes Ferguson’s inclusion of Cantona and Giggs.
He then goes on to give his opinion of what makes a player “world class”, before revealing which current and former players he would place in that bracket.
“So my definition of ‘world class’? A player that would fit comfortably into any team/league in the world and – here’s the important bit – make a difference.”
“Here’s a few more, that I’ve seen play in our league, that would slip comfortably into the ‘world class’ category. Dalglish. Souness. Big YaYa. Bobby Moore. Ball. Henry. Vieira. Aguero. Gullit (but I admit his best days were behind him). Suarez.”
That’s you told, Fergie.
