Darren Bent has lifted the lid on what it is like to work under Roy Keane… and his answer may come as a blessing in disguise for Sunderland players.
Keane reporedly turned down the chance to become Black Cats head coach last week, with the club appointing Alex Neil on Friday night
Former Black Cats striker Bent was playing for Aston Villa during the fiery Irishman’s brief stint at the Midlands club in 2014.
Last week, old teammate and current talkSPORT colleague Gabby Agbonlahor fired a bold warning to Sunderland fans as news broke that Keane was set to be appointed manager at the Stadium of Light for a second time.
Speaking on air, Agbonlahor rated the Man Utd legend’s man-management skills as zero out of 100 and called him ‘disrespectful’ towards his own players.
Now, ex-Black Cats hitman Bent has opened up about his time working with the former Red Devils captain.
“I got on really well with Keano,” he told talkSPORT.
“I've heard what Gabby had to say and, to be fair, Gabby has a right to say that because he didn't have a good relationship with him. Fabian Delph did not have a good relationship with him (too).
“But I remember, we played QPR away. We got beat 2-0 and Charlie Austin scored two good goals.
“He (Keane) came in, I'm not even exaggerating, two and a half hours later we were still in the change room and he was still going absolutely ballistic. Paul Lambert was manager at the time and didn't say anything.”
Bent also revealed some of Keane’s bizarre pet hates that used to cause friction in the dressing room.
“Roy went after the Lucozade that people were drinking,” he added.
“The masseuse too, he said too many people were getting massages. Ron Vlaar had a calf strain and was out for six weeks. He was like ‘how can anyone have a calf strain and be out for six weeks?’
“He spoke about not drinking water.
"Honestly, everything you could think of… he went at.
“Everyone had their heads down. If he made eye contact with you, you were getting it.”
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