Former Manchester United star Tim Howard has recalled his “uncomfortable” experience of watching a heated clash between “massive leaders” Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Tim Howard was brought to Old Trafford in 2003 by Sir Alex Ferguson after Manchester United agreed to a £2.3m fee to sign him from MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls).
The 44-year-old former United player made 77 appearances during his spell under Ferguson and lifted both a League Cup and an FA Cup with the Premier League club.
Howard would leave Old Trafford in 2006 for a loan spell at Everton before making a permanent switch to Goodison Park in 2007 for a fee believed to be £3m.
During his time at United, Howard shared the pitch with a roster of star-studded talent under Ferguson, including club legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Roy Keane.
However, the ex-United and Everton star has now opened up on one incident involving former teammate Keane and legendary former manager Ferguson.
READ MORE: Tim Howard claims he never saw anyone ‘work as hard’ as one Man Utd legend, it’s incredible praise
Howard talks Keane and Ferguson
Roy Keane, who is regarded as one of the best captains and midfielders of all time, had a prolific spell at Manchester United after his move from Nottingham Forest.
However, the 52-year-old Irishman was axed from Old Trafford after his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson fractured, with Keane later recalling a brutal meeting he had with him.
Speaking in his column for The Daily Mail, Tim Howard recalled one incident after a United match against Bolton where Keane and Ferguson “were going at each other.”
The former United States international revealed that the pair were “yelling” and things were “getting thrown” while everyone else was in the “corner hiding.”
“At Manchester United, Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson had some clashes – I remember once after a game at Bolton, they were going at each other in the locker room,” Howard wrote.
“Things were getting thrown, they were yelling back and forth while the rest of us were all in the corner hiding.
“It gets uncomfortable – no one’s going to interject! Everybody shut up.
“If you ever had the good fortune of being in a dressing room with two massive leaders like that, there is nothing you can say or do.
“But, again, you can’t have those fiery conversations, those screaming matches without respect. Otherwise, it boils over. It all stems from a foundation of respect.”
Howard on Ferguson’s impact at Man Utd
Howard also shared behind-the-scenes details from Old Trafford, specifically how Ferguson would even nurture a ‘winning mentality’ in training sessions at the club.
“At United, it was about the minute details,” he said.
“On a day-to-day basis, Fergie would create a training environment where winning mattered.
“It mattered that you won a small-sided game. Shooting drills mattered. And when your team lost players would be seething.
“You started to understand that Monday through Friday, the standard became so high that you were so deathly afraid to let your teammates down.
“That then started to trickle into matchday. You are already hardened with that mentality.”
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