Keane: It’s just not in my make-up to go out and break someone’s leg

Roy Keane has reiterated that he has no regrets about his infamous tackle on Manchester City’s Alf Inge Haaland. But he also insists that he did not go into the challenge with malice aforethought.

“I have no regret about the incident,” he said yesterday. “It was a late tackle and I got punished for it, but if people think I went out to damage a player or put them in hospital or go on a stretcher or break someone’s leg, absolutely not, it’s not in my makeup. To hit people and hurt them, yeah, just like people were there to do it to me.”

Speaking to Sean O’ Rourke on RTE Radio, Keane said there was a difference between going out to hurt or injure someone.

“Absolutely,” he said. “You ask anyone who has played sport.

“I don’t just watch soccer, I watch rugby league and sometimes there is a fight or a heavy tackle. You look at it and you know the difference.”

Keane went on to say that intent had to do with “how you tackle somebody, what part of the body, the standing leg, how you go in yourself, what angle you go in. Ask any professional footballer. That’s why when you watch games up and down the country and there might be a heavy tackle but there’ll be no fuss because players know.”

Asked about the distinction between anger and rage, Keane replied: “I’m not a player anymore. When you’re a player there is that intensity, so I don’t really have anything in my life where I feel I have to be up for it. When you’re a player and your testosterone levels are up, and you’re in a must win situation, you’re training or someone goes in late on you... I live a fairly quiet life now, believe it or not, so I don’t get in that situation. Anger and rage, it’s chalk and cheese.”

Over on Newstalk, meanwhile, Pat Kenny asked Keane about regrets.

“It’s not as if I sit at home every evening thinking about it,” he said.

“It’s not keeping me awake at night. I probably should have retired after Manchester United.

“Enough is enough but offers were coming through, somebody dangles that carrot. I’ve no regrets about Celtic, the way it went. But I tore my hamstring twice, it was a bridge too far.”

And, of course, no Roy Keane interview could be complete this week without another poke at Alex Ferguson’s criticisms.

“I’m not too bad with my own situation but other lads brought him success, wealth, statues, stands named after him,” said Keane. “He’s got a short memory.”

And, suggesting any future encounter between the two could be lively, he added: “I’m sure our paths will cross and I will be quick to get things off my chest.”