Every word Roy Keane said in infamous MUTV rant 24 years on from channel’s debut

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Today marks 24 years to the day that Roy Keane took aim at nearly every player at Manchester United – leaving viewers at home gobsmacked.

On October 29, 2005, a hapless United were beaten by Middlesbrough 4-1. It was one of the worst displays put on by players under Sir Alex Ferguson.

MUTV, launched in 1998, was the world’s first TV channel dedicated to just one football club. But the innovation would come back to bite United following their defeat to Boro.

READ MORE: The Queen told Sir Alex Ferguson no one would repeat Man Utd's historic treble

After the full-time whistle, MUTV interviewed Keane, who went on to blast his team-mates for their performance. Here is everything that he said.

"I have seen that happen to Rio [Ferdinand] before. It is poor defending. Just because you are paid £120,000 a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham you think you are a superstar."

He added: "He [Edwin van der Sar] should have saved that (a 30-yard goal from Gaizka Mendieta). That was saveable."

Keano then went for another defender: "He's [John O'Shea] just strolling around when he should have been busting a gut to get back."

Next he took on Darren Fletcher: "I can't understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher."

Keane then turned his attention on Kieran Richardson: "He is a lazy defender who deserved to get punished. He wasn't doing his job."

Finally, Alan Smith got both barrels: "What is he doing there? He is wandering around as if he is lost. He doesn't know what he is doing."

"When they [the young players] sign the contracts, they think they have made it. They owe it to the manager, the staff and the fans. They think they have made it. They haven't."

And if that wasn’t enough, he made further digs at the side: "The younger players have been let down by some of the more experienced ones – they are not leading. There is a shortage of characters. It seems to be in this club you have to play badly to be rewarded. Maybe that is what I should do when I come back – play badly."

He continued: "I wasn't surprised by the result, I had been expecting one like this. The players have been asked questions and they are just not coming up with the answers. I am sick of having to say it and they are sick of listening to me. They have let down the club, the manager, and the fans."

Keane was fined £5,000 for his brazen interview and the club reportedly sought to destroy all copies of the infamous interview, according to the Mirror.

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  • Rio Ferdinand
  • Sir Alex Ferguson
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  • Roy Keane

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