Newcastle United legend Les Ferdinand has given his verdict on Kevin Keegan's famous 'I would love it' TV outburst.
The Magpies manager delivered the Sky interview at the business end of the 1995/96 Premier League title race following a narrow victory against Leeds United at Elland Road.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson had suggested the Magpies' upcoming opponents might not try as hard against Keegan's side with just two matches remaining.
The suggestion prompted an angry response from United's manager, who declared his Red Devils counterpart had "gone down" in his estimation.
The stunning interview has gone on to define the title race and has been portrayed in the years since as Keegan breaking under Ferguson's "mind games", with United going on to draw their final two matches.
Ferdinand arrived on Tyneside in 1995 for a fee of £6m, and went on to bag 50 goals in just 84 appearances in the famous black and white stripes.
Speaking to the London Evening Standard, the former England and Tottenham striker revealed he only saw the outburst later that evening after returning from the Elland Road clash.
Ferdinand said: “I called Warren Barton and said ‘have you seen this?’
“All people want from players is to wear their hearts on the sleeves and give their all.
"That’s what Kevin did in that moment. But from the media’s perspective he’d lost the plot.”
