‘Why I’d love to beat pal Sir Alex’

Feb 23 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

KEVIN Keegan has laughed off rumours he does not get on with Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson following their intense rivalry during the 1990s – he just enjoys beating him.

There has inevitably been plenty of reminiscing done this week as the last time Keegan managed a Newcastle side against Manchester United the Magpies enjoyed a thrilling 5-0 win at St James’s Park in October 1996.

However, the chances of a struggling United side emulating that historic achievement 12 years later would appear to be remote as Keegan was forced to admit that the 6-0 defeat at Old Trafford last month had more of a bearing on today’s clash.

That defeat was one of the most humiliating endured by Newcastle’s long-suffering supporters in the Premier League, but boss Keegan will attempt to ensure his players do not suffer an inferiority complex because of it this evening. “The 6-0 loss is more relevant to these players than the 5-0 win all those years ago,” said Keegan, who is still adamant that Newcastle, given time, will once again challenge the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United for domestic and European honours.

“You hope, and I would think, we would get a reaction to that. We have got to let Man United know we think differently now and are capable of a different performance over 90 minutes, although if they looked at us playing Aston Villa in the second half, they would think we were the same team. We have to push that to one side. We went there (Old Trafford) managerless, no disrespect to the caretaker. They were 0-0 at half time and did have a couple of opportunities.

“After that they fell to bits and it could have been more than six, but Man United can do that to anybody. They did it to Arsenal and we know how good they are; put four past Arsenal and really dominated them. If you need telling, it shows what a good side they are. But they are not invincible. If you didn’t think you could win, you shouldn’t go. We have an opportunity, it is a good game for us.

“Yeah, they’re a great side. Man for man they are better than we can put out, but if we can perform as a team, we can beat them. Manchester City showed that a couple of weeks ago at Old Trafford and Spurs were very unlucky not to beat

them.” The last time Keegan faced Ferguson at Old Trafford, the two teams ended the season in first and second place for the second successive year. Manchester United, though, were champions on both occasions and Keegan, despite his infamous outburst against him during the 1995-96 season when Newcastle squandered a 12-point lead, has nothing but admiration for his opposite number today.

He said: “I have maximum respect for him. You only have to look at what he has done, what he went through at the start at Manchester United and how he has rebuilt the team three times.

“People think I do not like him, I do, but I would like to beat him again, you know because I quite enjoy that, as anyone would tell you. But that does not mean to say I do not respect what he does, and what he is as a man and also what he has done at the club. He just gets on with it. He runs his football club the right way, not scared to say his opinion if he thinks something is wrong as he did recently about the 39th game.

“He is big enough, strong enough and confident enough to say things. You do not always agree with him but I admire that in somebody. It means he still cares passionately about what he does.”

And despite their recent troubles, Keegan remains convinced that Newcastle will once again emerge as one of Manchester United’s main rivals for silverware. He added: “I definitely believe we can compete with them again on an equal footing, but not overnight. If you can do it once, why can’t you do it again? If you do not believe things like that, there is no point being in football. You might as well just fulfil the fixtures and let the Big Four take over the top four as they are. It is our job to challenge them.”

Newcastle fans have been urged to get into their seats 10 minutes before kick-off this evening as the club will be making a special presentation on the pitch to former manager Sir Bobby Robson to mark his 75th birthday.