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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matt Maltby

Roy Keane's management style at Ipswich saw Man Utd icon 'destroy' players after games

Former Ipswich defender Damien Delaney has revealed how Roy Keane would "destroy" him during his time as manager at Portman Road.

Manchester United legend Keane spent two years as the Tractor Boys' boss before quiting in 2011, and is yet to return to a managerial role after assistant spells at Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.

Delaney played under Keane at Ipswich and has detailed how his fellow Irishman would lay into him when in charge of the Championship club.

Keane has since stated in his book how he regretted the way he spoke to his defender - but Delaney says he holds no grudges.

Roy Keane spent two years as the Tractor Boys' boss before quiting in 2011 (Action Images)

He told Off The Ball : "It is as probably close to an apology that you get from him! he probably wouldn't say sorry for anything - but it's fine, man.

"He did what he thought was correct at the time and he managed the way that he thought was correct, and I was on the end of a lot of it... an awful lot of it, if I'm honest with you.

"It wasn't fine at the time, as it grinds you down. I have laughed when people said this before - but if Roy Keane has said he was too hard on you, can you imagine what I had to go through?

"It was tough enough and he did used to favour coming for me. But again, you try and take it on the chin and focus on the game.

Damien Delaney has revealed how Roy Keane would "destroy" him at Ipswich (Action Images)

"The only thing that kept me going was that he picked me. If a manager is having a go at you and you're not in the team, or even worse he is not talking to you and not picking you, then he doesn't think very much of you.

"But I think I played nigh-on every game for him, bar a game or two here and there when I was banished for a mistake. But nigh-on every game.

"That is the only thing that consoled me: he can't think I'm that bad because he's picking me. So he would destroy me after a game, not speak to me for a week, and then named the team on the Saturday and I'd be in it!"

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