Paul Scholes on Roy Keane: He handed out the bollockings and we took them

Roy Keane would have been called an awful lot worse in his time than "the manager on the football pitch."

But that's exactly how Paul Scholes referred to his former captain in an interview on Off the Ball tonight. Scholes knows Keano better than most after the pair looked after the middle of the park for Manchester United for 12 years and the former England midfielder revealed that the players knew the value of Keane's occasional tongue-lashing.

MANCHESTER -DECEMBER 19: Roy Keane of Manchester United shouting at his team mates during his return to action in the reserve match between Manchester United and Newcastle United held on December 19, 2002 at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

"He was the manager on the football pitch," Scholes said. "If you did something wrong you knew about it.

"He tried to get the best out of everyone to get a result for his team. If you are in for a bollocking then so be it, that's the way you have to take it." And when asked whether his former teammate ever came in for some backtalk from the players, Scholes responded with a resounding "no!"

"He handed them out and we took them," he laughed.

WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Paul Scholes of Manchester United celebrates his first goal with team mate Roy Keane, during the Barclays Premiership match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United at the Hawthorns Stadium, on November 27, 2004 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

While he and Keane appeared each other inside out on the pitch, Scholes revealed that the pair never needed to talk much. "It was very natural, not much communication on or off the pitch, there was never any need to be. Everyone who played with Roy knew how good he was, he was somebody you could rely on." When asked what led him to his current role as a pundit on BT Sport, Scholes had the perfect explanation for his decision.

"I didn't have a job basically," he said. "It's not something I thought I would do. I have been doing it for the best part of a season now. Will it be something I carry on doing? I'm not too sure. It's okay.

"Do I enjoy it as much as playing football? No I don't, but then again I won't enjoy anything as much as playing football."

Alex Ferguson taken to hospital after feeling unwell before Liverpool match

The legendary gaffer was expected to attend the Man United v Liverpool match, but fell unwell. Alex Ferguson has been taken to hospital after falling unwell before the Manchester United v Liverpool match. Expected initially to attend the iconic rivalry at Old Trafford, the United and football legend has been taken as a precaution, as […]

Football

2 days ago

Paul Scholes on Roy Keane: He handed out the bollockings and we took them

Home›sport

Roy Keane would have been called an awful lot worse in his time than "the manager on the football pitch."

Roy Keane would have been called an awful lot worse in his time than "the manager on the football pitch."

Home sport