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'We're not One Direction'

File getting on the wrong side of Roy Keane under 'not recommended' © PA Photos

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Roy Keane's death stare has become commonplace at his news conferences in recent years.

And it was out in full force on Sunday as the Republic of Ireland assistant manager met the media after his side's 1-0 Euro 2016 qualifying defeat to Scotland - the build-up to which was clouded in controversy as Keane was involved in an incident at the team's hotel that involved the Gardai being called.

Asked if he was prepared to discuss the incident, details of which are still unclear, Keane threw a veil of dismissal over the question.

"No," he said. "I'm not."

Keane, who was also centre of attention ahead of last month's qualifiers against Gibraltar and Germany after the release of his updated autobiography, was similarly reticent when asked if he was becoming a distraction to Ireland's cause.

"No," he said again.

Suddenly more riled, he added: "You think I've got to justify all that to you? And you all sit there and think I've got to answer everything.

"Who the hell do you think you are? I've got to answer to you? I answer to the FAI and Martin [O'Neill]. If we don't get the results, I'll be gone and you won't lose a minute's sleep, so don't worry about distractions.

"You are the ones who write about distractions."

The media gathering took a lighter tone later on when Keane was asked if his high-profile management team with Martin O'Neill meant there might be public places they could not go.

"It's fine," he said. "We were out last night for a meal."

Then, with a flicker of a smile: "We're not One Direction."

Of course, we already knew this. In a recent interview with ShortList, Keane revealed he is not a fan of the ritual to get players to sing in front of their new team-mates.

"It happens at Villa," he said. "But if I was a player at a new club and someone said, 'You've got to sing tonight', I just wouldn't f***ing do it.

"I sing for nobody. People say it's banter, but I don't like that type of banter.

"I'd help players by making sure they settled in properly, making sure my wife touched base with their family. That was my way."

See? He's a sweetheart after all.

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