In Alex Ferguson's 2013 book, he branded Roy Keane's performance on MUTV's misbegotten programme Play the Pundit 'a disgrace'. He said that Keane had 'slaughtered' his teammates and 'had begun to think he was the United manager'.
When the players and management gathered around to watch that particular episode of 'Play the Pundit', Ferguson painted a mood of general consternation at the content of Keane's remarks.
Van Der Sar challenged Roy. Roy basically told Van der Sar to shove it. Ruud Van Nistelrooy stepped in to defend Van der Sar, and Keane had a go at him. There followed a row between Keane and Carlos Quiroz, during which Ferguson said players walked out.
Roy asked the players whether they had anything to say about what they had just seen. Edwin van der Sar said yes. He told Roy was out of line criticising his teammates. So Roy attacked Edwin. Who did he think he was, what did Edwin know about Manchester United? Van Nistelrooy, to his credit, piped up to support Van der Sar, so Roy rounded on Ruud. Then he started on Carlos. But he saved the best for me.
'You brought your private life into the club with your argument with Magnier.'
Louis Saha, while bursting with praise for Alex Ferguson, has a different attitude towards Keane's MUTV call-out. Recuperating from injury, Saha told us he was not present for the famous screening of the MUTV interview.
His own take is that Keane's outburst was badly needed and ultimately had a positive impact on the club, even going so far as to suggest Keane might deserve some credit for the titles won after his departure.
It (the atmosphere) was tense. But it was needed. What Roy Keane did for Man United at that time was crucial. He sacrificed himself because he thought he was right to give a kick in the back of the head to everyone involved in that club.
I think he contained himself for one or two years. He thought that something was missing in some players and that something was missing in some of the coaching staff... I think it was needed. And when you look at it right now, maybe all the titles won by United (in years afterwards) have been won because of that (outburst).
For sure, he ended his career at United but he sacrificed himself in my eyes.
He (Alex Ferguson) didn't like it. But it managed to be a very positive move. Because when you see that there is a reaction, when you see that people aren't happy with the message that he addressed actually it made us think, it made us react and we had a good response. I see that as more of a sacrifice than anything.
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Saha was speaking at the Web Summit today about his company 'Axis Stars', abusiness which offers sound career advice and retirement options to its members, usually professional athletes.
Saha also discussed his relationship with Ferguson, his feelings on where United are going now, why it didn't work out for David Moyes at Old Trafford and the state of the French national team.
