Roy Keane was in no humour to talk about his playing career. He didn’t feel like discussing the current health of Irish football, nor was he willing to elaborate too much about where it all went wrong in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Belgium.
Even recalling Ireland’s famous victory over Italy at the 1994 World Cup at Giants Stadium failed to coax Keane on a trip down memory lane. He was only looking forward.
Still two days out from Ireland’s final group game of Euro 2016, you got the feeling that Keane would have been happy to play the must-win encounter against Italy right there and then, out the back, on the pitch at the Stade Montbauron.
“Sacrifices, you’ve got to make sacrifices for your team. What do you think I would do? Courage, you need players with courage…and balls” - Roy Keane
The former Ireland captain was ready, and he would have ensured that his players were too.
Of course, Keane was never going to make it through the entire length of what may have been his final media briefing in Versailles without talking about the Belgium game.
“We’ve watched it back, and that wasn’t easy, let me tell you,” admitted Keane.
But then the Cork native revealed a very interesting aspect to his relationship with football and sport in general.
“I actually enjoy that in sport, I like that side of it where if you're not at your best, you get punished - that's the name of the game - and we did (get punished) the other day.”
Perhaps that might be interpreted as a reason why Keane was enjoying the Ireland job so much, due to the amount of disappointment guaranteed. However, the former Manchester United midfielder explained his thinking.
Following a bad performance, Keane explained that he likes to watch how people react to the situation. “How do you react to your mistakes? How do you deal with the set-backs?”
The former Sunderland manager believes that great players were always able to look forward in these scenarios, and also compared it in boxing parlance.
“I’ve seen great boxers get knocked out, but you get back up and you start swinging and hope for the best.”
As mentioned, Keane remained reluctant to speak about all the vital games that he would have played for Manchester United against Italian opposition and how the experience might be used to inspire the current squad.
No doubt, Keane knows first hand how to play against that relentless Italian style, but you sensed that Martin O’Neill’s right-hand man wanted the focus to remain on the players and their Euro 2016 experience.
Keane wants the players to make their own history here in France, which is exactly what will transpire should Ireland beat Italy to progress to the knock-out phase.
There is evidently a real bond that has built between Keane and the squad and he genuinely wants to help the players to achieve their potential and continue to learn how to play at this top level.
Keane is confident that his players can bounce back from the Belgium defeat and he expects their energy levels to be optimised and to be physically ready for the challenge.
“I’ve no doubt that we will bounce back on Wednesday with a good performance. I’ve said it before that it doesn’t guarantee that you are going to win a game of football.
“If we’re at our best and a little bit of luck goes our way, and a few decisions, then we’re capable of it. You know, we have beaten Germany in the last two years. Players have to remember these days.”
"It is 22 years since Ireland recorded that famous World Cup victory on the outskirts of New York City, on a day when the performance was perhaps even more impressive than the result"
The assistant manager was in media mode, of course, but you could tell what he was saying to the cameras is exactly what he will be saying in the dressing room on Wednesday evening.
Primarily, Keane wants the players to be brave and show courage on the pitch.
Bravery on the pitch in Keane’s mind does not relate to how hard you can hit someone – although, that aspect of the game is one which he is never likely to discourage – but Keane spoke of having the bravery to “take care of the ball”, and the courage to want the ball even when “you don't actually want the ball”.
“At international level, you have to have players who are comfortable on the ball or comfortable in possession, and are brave and we need to see that against Italy.”
Great players are judged by how they react when they get on the ball, their decision-making and what they do with their first and second touch, according to Keane.
As well as courage and bravery, Keane has demanded that every member of the squad is ready, as changes will be made. And training has been encouraging as players who have not yet been selected are giving the manager a selection headache.
Thankfully, Keane was more than happy to speak of Wednesday’s opponents. But instead of listing Italy’s potential flaws, Keane was full of praise for a squad and system that he has much admiration for.
“I have seen them a number of times. They are well organised. They clearly love to defend. They’ve got good options. They will put you under pressure and get it forward. They’re a big goal threat.
“I don’t want to be talking them up too much but they’ve got a bit of everything and that is why they are a good team.”
Keane feels that there is no better side than smelling danger than the Italians and he will encourage his side to learn that side of the game and put it into effect in Lille.
“That’s where you go back to the Italians; you have got to be streetwise in this game.
“If you smell danger, and if you think ‘we’re in trouble here’, then you do whatever you can to get the right result, and if that’s fouling, then you foul.
“It’s not a crime, you might get a yellow card, you might even get a red, but your team might win.
“Sacrifices, you’ve got to make sacrifices for your team. What do you think I would do?
“Courage, you need players with courage…and balls.”
But really, Keane just wants the players to play to the best of their ability on the European stage, and the assistant is convinced that Ireland can secure that historic result in Lille
It is 22 years since Ireland recorded that famous World Cup victory on the outskirts of New York City, on a day when the performance was perhaps even more impressive than the result.
And while Keane was not in the mood to reminisce, some poignant words remained ringing around the makeshift media zone as he wandered out, perhaps for the final time.
“We have beaten Italy before, so…it can be done.”
Watch Italy v Republic of Ireland (8pm Wednesday) on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, listen live on Radio 1 or follow the liveblog on RTE.ie
