Keane defends his tunnel vision

Manchester United captain Roy Keane is willing to repeat his tunnel bust-up with Arsenal’s Patrick Vieira if it means protecting a teammate.

Keane clashed with midfield rival Vieira when the sides met at Highbury on February 1.

The Irishman stepped in to protect defender Gary Neville and United went on to win 4-2 despite Mikael Silvestre’s sending-off.

Keane admits Neville may have been in the wrong too, but said: “I came into the dressing room after the warm-up and heard that Vieira had gone after Gary Neville already.

“I’m usually first out in the tunnel, but I had a problem with my shorts and I was maybe fourth or fifth out and by the time I got down I saw Vieira getting right into Gary Neville again. I mean physically as well now. I don’t mean verbally.

“I’d had enough of Vieira’s behaviour and I would do what I did again tomorrow if I had to.

“It takes two to tango. Maybe Gary deserves to be chased up a tunnel every now and then – there would be a queue for him, probably. But you have to draw a line eventually.

“I just said ‘That’s it, I’m not having this’. That sort of behaviour I won’t tolerate.”