Among the many players who felt the full force of Roy Keane's infamously pulped MUTV interview - the affirmation of standards that led to his departure from United - was Darren Fletcher. The Scottish midfielder was breaking into the United first team at the time, but Keane's dyspeptic put-down was "I can't understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher."
Fletcher went on to have a very fine career at United: he won five Premier League titles, along with a European Cup and an FA Cup, despite losing out on a chunk of playing time through illness, having been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis.
Fletcher is now anchoring the West Brom midfield, with Tony Pulis' side in contention to finish seventh in the league, or top of the mini-league outside of the riches of the Top Six.
The Scot has given a very fine interview to the Daily Mail today, in which he remembers his relationship with Keane differently to how many assume it was.
It frustrates me that some people think Roy didn't rate me because he probably moulded me more than any other player I have known.He was hard on me but he was always fair. If he spoke to me 10 times, nine were compliments. If I was late, Roy would let me know. If my passing wasn't on in training then Roy would let me know.
People remember the controversial stories and the times he went mental. But the rest of the time he made me feel on top of the world.What about the story where I've been out for two months and Roy says loudly, "I am glad this lad's back. We have missed him". That's not a great story. It's a better story to say, "Remember that time Roy nailed Fletch in the dressing room for looking at his phone".
That did happen, yeah. But it was rare and that was just about standards. It was his way of getting a message to everybody. That is what it was like at United.
Fletcher goes on to praise Keane's quality - "the best first touch I ever saw" - and his leadership.
You can read the full interview on the Mail's website.
