Roy Keane Interivew
Tipster
We gave you the chance to quiz Manchester United captain Roy Keane.
Keano gives us an insight at United, his favourite players and the
advice that has helped him in his career.
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What's the best game you've played in?
Martin Packham
Hopefully it will be this year's FA Cup Final! Hopefully I'll reach 500
games for United next season, I've played 60 or 70 times for Ireland
and made 150 appearances for Forest.
I've just been very lucky to do that so I don't want to pick out a
single game.
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Do you still get nervous before matches? Andy Stephens
No. If you've done your preparations and looked after yourself all week
there's no need to be nervous.
I think players tend to get anxious if they've not really done things
properly - like eating, resting or training. If you're fully prepared
you've got nothing to worry about - it's just a game of football.
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How do you prepare mentally and physically before each game?
John Gillett
Is this man focused or what?
As you get a bit older that does change slightly. I try and have a
relaxed attitude and stay quite switched off until about an hour before
kick-off.
If you've worked hard during the week and done your homework on the
opposition there's no need to worry too much on the day. You just want
to get on with it.
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You're at a club where you've won everything. What motivates you to
carry on with the same passion you showed when you joined the club?
Daniel Sodera
Whatever team you are with or whatever player you are, what you've
achieved in the past is history.
If you have a good season then great - time to move on. If you've had a
bad season, learn from it and do better the following season.
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As a midfielder and captain what is the last thing you tell your team
mates before kick-off?
Martin
I don't speak too much before the start of the game. By then we'll have
done our work and be fully prepared.
The manager and coaching staff will have their jobs and everything will
be right - there isn't much more for me to say.
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Where do you get your hunger, desire and will to win?
Garry
Any player who wants to play for Manchester United, or do well in their
career, has that in abundance - certainly the players I've played with
have it in them.
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Who have been your influences and what was Eric Cantona like to play
with?
Paul Bartley
United legend Eric Cantona
Cantona was an outstanding player, as were all the players in the
1992/93 team that I came into. He was a good team-mate to have and he
worked hard for the team.
I've had influences from many people including the coaches and players
I've worked with. Obviously two of the most important have been Sir
Alex Ferguson and my manager at Nottingham Forest, Brian Clough.
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What sort of influences have Brian Clough and Alex Ferguson had on your
career?
Neil
Brian Clough bought me over from Ireland, gave me my debut after only a
few weeks at the club and looked after me well away from football. With
top managers like Clough and Ferguson, the advice and the way they
train is very simple.
People might think there's some magic science to it, but there isn't -
they just keep it nice and simple.
Brian Clough's advice to me before most games was: 'you get it, you
pass it to another player in a red shirt'. That's really all I've tried
to do at Forest and United - pass and move - and I've made a career out
of it.
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Who is the best opponent you have ever played against and why?
Ade
Zinedine Zidane. Technically he's an outstanding player and also very
strong. He scores great goals and sets them up too. He's my toughest
opponent, without a doubt.
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You've been the most influential midfielder in Premiership history.
Who's been the most difficult opponent and who did you learn the most
from when you started at Forest?
Ade
There have been so many. When I first started out at Forest we had the
likes of Stuart Pearce, Des Walker and Nigel Clough.
When I joined United, players like Bryan Robson and Paul Ince were
fantastic too, but there have been so many that I think it's unfair to
single out just one.
Nowadays the game seems to be a lot quicker and stronger, with the
likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard at the fore.
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After recovering from your injuries do you have a routine to help you
focus? Do you have to do what the doctors tell you?
Kevin Woods
I definitely listen to what the doctors, surgeons and physios tell me
because they're the experts.
We all think we know what's best when we're young, but as I've got
older I definitely take on board what they tell me. Whatever they say,
I do - it's as simple as that.
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I'm 13 and would love to play for a Premiership team one day. Any
advice?
James R
Train very hard, listen to your coaches and believe you can make it.
I didn't come to England until I was 18 and a lot of people felt I may
have missed the boat, but I always believed that if I got a chance I
would take it.
Hopefully kids will look at me and see that your dreams can come true.
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