Clockwise from left
The rant that Kev
still doesn’t regret
today; Ferdinand’s
25 league strikes
weren’t quite
enough to seal top
spot; Cantona’s goal
gave Man United
momentum; the
Toon knew their race
was run after a 1-1
draw at Nottingham
Forest in the
penultimate fixture
In February, I’d bought Faustino Asprilla from Parma for £6.7 million
to help us win the league. Some people have suggested his arrival was
a reason for us falling short, because we started to lose matches soon
after. But that’s not fair, that’s simply looking for a scapegoat. He also
won us games we would have otherwise lost.
By the end of March, United had overtaken us at the top of the table
so we were forced to play catch up. They cemented their lead over us
in April with a 1-0 win at home to Leeds, who annoyed Alex Ferguson
with their battling performance.
My understanding is that a furious Fergie actually asked Leeds boss
Howard Wilkinson if he could go to the press and more or less admit
that Leeds should be ashamed of themselves, because they should be
playing like that every week.
The sole reason he did that is because he knew we still had to go to
Leeds, so he was suggesting they wouldn’t try as hard against us and
wanted to challenge them and their commitment, throwing down the
gauntlet to them to beat us.
This really annoyed me, as I thought he was having a go at football
and suggesting players wouldn’t try hard enough. The implication was
they only tried hard against Man United. I wasn’t buying it – everyone
tries hard against everyone. That’s what made me so angry.
On April 29, after we won 1-0 at Leeds, I faced the Sky cameras for
an interview and let it be known just how much he had annoyed me.
It became known as my famous rant.
This is what I said: ‘When you do that with footballers, like he said
about Leeds... I’ve kept really quiet but I’ll tell you something, he went
down in my estimation when he said that. We haven’t resorted to that.
I’ll tell you, you can tell him now if you’re watching it, we’re still fighting
for this title and he’s got to go to Middlesbrough and get something,
and I’ll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it!’
I don’t regret that even now. What he’d said really annoyed me and
I just let it all out – it was pure emotion. The interview was done down
the line with cans on my ears, and people always talk loudly with them
on – you don’t realise how loud you’re speaking. I got on the bus after,
saw the interview and couldn’t believe I was shouting.
What irritates me is the myth that’s built up that I lost Newcastle the
title due to this rant and that it made my team nervous and unsettled,
which simply isn’t true.
United were three points ahead of us with one match to play, and
while we still had two games to play, their goal difference was worth
another point. The title had effectively already gone.
On the final weekend they had to go to Middlesbrough, managed by
former United great Bryan Robson, and get a win, whereas we had to
hope they lost that, and also beat Nottingham Forest and Tottenham
in our last two games. It was never going to happen.
Sir Alex crossed a line, and therein lays the difference between us.
That’s how he won 13 Premier League titles and I won none.
I don’t hold a grudge against him. I wouldn’t say we’re friends – we
don’t go out for dinner, we’ve never been close – but there’s a mutual
respect there. He’s since asked me to do a favour for a charity that his
friend runs, which I did.
People say we lost that title, but United won it. Look at their record
after Christmas – they just kept winning. They won 3-0 at Boro on the
final day, while we drew with Spurs to finish four points behind them.
The whole mood was different that day, as we knew it was gone. At
the final whistle I hated doing a lap of honour, as I didn’t think it was
justified. I get you have to thank the fans at the end of the season, but
the disappointment was so intense that I didn’t want to walk around.
At the time we had nothing to show for a fantastic season, as back
then you didn’t even get a Champions League place for finishing 2nd,
but on reflection I’m still proud of what we achieved.
They say no one remembers the runners-up, but people remember
us that season. We were everyone’s second favourite team. They will
always remember the entertainment, and the way we played.”Kevin Keegan: My Life in Football is published by Macmillan and out now ImagesPA except interviewFourFourTwo.com The Managers 91KEVIn
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