McClaren - Winning attitude makes Keane the best

Roy Keane would only be half the player he is if the passion and aggression was taken out of his game.

That is the view of Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren, who worked closely with the 31-year-old Manchester United skipper during his days as Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man at Old Trafford.

McClaren is an unashamed admirer of the Irishman, who plunged himself further into the mire of controversy in which he has been immersed in recent months with his sending off at Sunderland on Saturday for elbowing former international team-mate Jason McAteer off the ball.

And, while not condoning his excesses, McClaren insists that Keane’s psychological make-up is an integral part of the way he plays his football and one of the reasons for his success over the years.

"It’s a will to win,” McClaren said.

“He’s a winner and he’s got that will to win. If you take that away from anybody, you’re taking away 50%.

“He can’t lose that. Why change that? He’s been like that all his career, that’s why Manchester United have been so successful.

McClaren, who takes his Boro side to Old Trafford tomorrow night, believes that Keane’s refusal to accept defeat – a character trait he shares with his manager – has been instilled in his team-mates, and that is why they consistently work their way through adversity.

“No-one epitomises that more than Roy,” he said. “He’s a tremendous competitor, nothing fazes him, and he’s the same no matter what game he plays in.

“Whether it’s a five-a-side, whether it’s the European Cup Final, Roy Keane plays the game the same way, so we expect no different from Roy tomorrow than he is any other week, and that goes for Manchester United as well.

“He epitomises everything about Manchester United and why they’ve been so successful over the last 10 years. He mirrors the manager in the determination and motivation to win. They’re winners, full stop.”