'I'd be dead': Ole Gunnar Solskjaer talks about the one time he 'lost his mind' with Manchester United legend Roy Keane
Manchester United icon Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has recalled the one time he “lost his mind” with former team-mate Roy Keane.
The calm Norwegian spent 11 trophy-laden years in Old Trafford as a player before a three-year spell as United manager in 2018.
Much of his playing days were spent alongside the fearsome former United captain. Keane as the pair helped propel United to multiple Premier League titles and the unforgettable Champions League triumph in 1999.
solskjaer He admits to enjoying a good relationship with the Irishman but revealed he almost came to blows with him during a heated exchange in a clash against Tottenham at White Hart Lane.
Talking about the Stay with football podcast, said: “It (his relationship with Keane) has been good, it's been decent.
“He was always complaining and yelling and that's how I knew he cared and felt like I could help the team.
“I'm not sure if Roy knows this, Tottenham away, White Hart Lane (we're counter-attacking) and I made the poor decision not to pass the ball to Roy just before half-time.
“And he was giving me everything, absolutely all kinds of insults and at half-time, Roy was about 15 or 20 meters ahead of me and I lost him.
“I was going to have you, (former United assistant) Carlos (Queiroz) stopped me saying: 'It's not worth it, Ole'. I'd be dead!”
Responding to Solskjaer's revelation, Keane simply stated: “Good morning together.”
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Despite the incident, the couple has great mutual respect after nine years sharing a dressing room at the Teatro de los Sueños.
Keane regularly supported the Norwegian when he faced heavy criticism during his tenure at the helm of United.
The pair's loyalty was cemented in 2005, during Keane's final days at the club, when Solskjaer defended his teammate following a explosive rain with Mr Alex Ferguson.
Keane was stripped of the captaincy before his subsequent move to Celtic with Keane fighting his old boss in a temporary reunion.
As Ferguson continued to fume despite his former captain having left the room, Solskjaer along with Pablo ScholesHe defied orders and left the room in solidarity with Keane.
“I think I respected him before that,” Keane said. The times in 2021. “I don't think he and Scholesy went up another level after that.
“I had really forgotten that they left the meeting until now.
“My loyalty to Ole, Scholesy, Nicky Butt, Giggsy or Nev (Gary Neville) is not because of one incident, but because of what we did together over a number of years.”
