Fergie tells Keane keep criticism in-house

ALEX FERGUSON has warned Roy Keane and everyone else at Manchester United he will not tolerate public criticism of his players.

Ferguson was involved in the executive decision to prevent Keane's sensational assessment of last weekend's humiliating defeat at Middlesbrough hitting the MUTV airwaves on Monday.

Ferguson has often backed his captain when Keane has condemned the Red Devils in general fashion and also stood by the 34-year-old when he attacked the attitude of younger members of his squad 12 months ago.

But on this occasion, the United boss clearly felt Keane overstepped the mark, crossing the boundary Ferguson has never gone beyond throughout his illustrious managerial career.

"Of course there is criticism," he said. "The criticism has come from all directions. What you have to do as manager of our club is to make sure the criticism remains inside your doors.

"I am unremitting in that respect. Totally unequivocal. My stance is there and it doesn't change. You don't criticise any Manchester United player outside the doors. I have never done and I won't."

The paradoxical position of having to publicly rebuke a member of his squad for attempting to publicly rebuke other members of his squad ensured Ferguson did not mention Keane by name.

But the mere fact he offered the statement as opposed to dismissing any talk of the issue which he did so forcefully to a television reporter at Manchester Airport on Tuesday is a firm indication as to where he was directing his statement.

After following up the Boro debacle with a crushing Champions League loss to Lille in midweek, Ferguson is presumably aware of his side's shortcomings.

"Criticism is not a problem for me, you expect it at a club like this," he said. "What I have to look at is how the players have been affected by it. It is natural, particularly in young players, that you have a dip in confidence when you lose games. They are no different to anyone else in that respect."