Alex Ferguson scorns Roy Keane after Man Utd defeat

ALEX FERGUSON probably had the hairdryer turned on at full blast in the dressing room after Manchester United's humiliating exit from the Champions League last night, but in public he staunchly defended his young side. Even if that meant turning on one of his oldest and most able lieutenants, the legendary Roy Keane.

The Irish midfielder provided the backbone of United's midfield from the mid-1990s until he left the club in 2005, and during his time at Old Trafford Ferguson stood by him through thick and thin.
 
But last night Fergie dismissed his former enforcer as nothing more than a failed manager reduced to working as a TV pundit, after he dared cast doubt on the ability of the new generation of United players.
 
In the aftermath of the 2-1 defeat by Basel, Keane, who was summarising on ITV, said: "They’ve got a lot to do, it's a reality check. I'd be getting hold of some of those lads, saying, 'You'd better buck up your ideas.'
 
"I think their best player tonight was Ryan Giggs. That sums it up – he's 37 or 38, you can't be depending on him."
 
When those comments were put to Ferguson at a tense post-match press conference he was visibly unimpressed and responded by reminding the audience of Keane's record as a manager (he walked out on Sunderland and was sacked by Ipswich).
 
"I don't know why you are bringing this up from a television critic," sniffed Ferguson. "That's nothing to do with it. Roy had an opportunity to prove himself as a manager and it's a hard job.
 
"We have enough good young players to see us through. I have every confidence in them." ·