Former Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane has opened up old wounds by admitting he is still bitter and twisted over his bust-up with Irish boss Mick McCarthy. The Manchester United player returned home early from Ireland's preparations for the World Cup finals on the island of Saipan after his on-going personal feud with McCarthy escalated when the pair clashed over the facilities on the island.
"I know that time is a great healer and all that but it is still very raw to me," Keane told The Times of London, who are serialising his biography, 'The Game'. "It still hurts me and I still feel bitter. Bitter and twisted towards these people. People go round the houses talking about my complaints over the training pitches and so on, which were valid. But I would have played in the World Cup despite all that if McCarthy hadn't accused me of faking injuries. It is as simple as that. They dangled a carrot for me and I had a good nibble. To me, that is the worst insult you can have. Why hasn't anyone asked him why he said what he did and why he wanted me out?"
Keane has also claimed that McCarthy was at fault for Ireland's dramatic exit to Spain at the World Cup. "They did OK, but that's what they expected because the manager drums that into the team. We've done well to qualify, all that nonsense. That's the problem. That sums up the mentality. Spain had 10 men for half an hour, the game was there for the taking. I think a more astute manager would have won the game. Some people have higher standards than others."
The United midfielder also reiterated that he will not play for Ireland again while McCarthy is in charge. "Mick has two years left on his contract, and obviously I will never play for him again. In two years, if some chairman is daft enough to give him a job and someone else comes in, I will look at it again. I would not like to finish my international career on that note. Some people seem to think it doesn't bother me. Of course it bothers me to have missed the World Cup."
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
