Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane said he believes Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes were all better footballers than him.
Keane played a total of 469 games for United between 1993 and 2005, winning seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League.
The Irishman was a stalwart in Sir Alex Ferguson’s dominant team, but he believes Gerrard, Lampard and United teammate Scholes were all superior players to him.
“When you compare me to players — people talk about Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard — these guys were way better than me,” Keane told the Irish Independent.
When questioned about Lampard being better than him, the former midfielder reaffirmed that belief.
“Yeah. Gerrard and Scholesy too," he repeated. “I’m not saying they had the same influence in their teams as me and I couldn’t compete with the guys, but, yeah, they were better than me. I had lads at Rockmount better than me. I’m under no illusions about that.”
Keane started his youth career at Cork club Rockmount before moving to Cobh Ramblers in 1989 and Nottingham Forest a year later. Keane joined United from Forest in 1993.
The 48-year-old was back in the spotlight over the weekend after giving a brutal verdict on United's defence following Tottenham's opening goal in north London on Friday night.
“I’m shocked. I’ve watched a lot of football over the years, but to give away that goal, I’m fuming here watching this game of football. I can’t believe Shaw heading the ball up in the air and then running forward. I am staggered at Maguire. I am staggered that an international player can just get done like this," Keane told Sky Sports.
“I am sick to death of this goalkeeper (David de Gea). I would be fighting him at half-time. There is no getting away from that. I would be swinging punches at that guy."
