McAteer feared Keane attack

Only the quick-thinking intervention from referee Uriah Rennie prevented Manchester United captain Keane from exacting immediate revenge on McAteer.

Keane took umbrage at a rash kick from the Sunderland midfielder but was later sent off for elbowing McAteer in the last minute.

McAteer insists he was not aiming to provoke Keane or get the Red Devils skipper dismissed but he was thankful for Rennie's involvement, even though the official was surprisingly chastised for his actions.

"I wasn't trying to kick Roy Keane. It could have been Phil Neville or Ryan Giggs for all I knew," McAteer told the Irish Sunday Independent.

"But he just snapped.  He just went 'bang'.

"Uriah Rennie took some stick for stepping between us but I am thankful he did because Roy would have ripped my head off."

The former Liverpool man admits he was baffled as to why Keane later blotted his copybook with a needless elbow.

He added: "I saw the referee going for the red card and shouted 'No, no, no'. I didn't want him sent off.

"As Roy was walking off, I couldn't believe it. I knew he was going to get even more stick. I couldn't understand why he had done it."

McAteer also elaborated on the furore surrounding the publication of Keane's controversial autobiography which has antagonised his fellow professionals.

The fiery Black Cat cannot fathom why Keane chose to unleash his opinions while he was still playing and believes his former international colleague could rue his decision.

"I just wish he would shut up and do what he is best at," McAteer continued.

"He has lost so many friends and admirers over this and I can't understand it.

"He must have to buy ten bottles of Brasso from Tesco's every week just to shine all the medals in his trophy cabinet. But you can't take your medals to the pub with you.

"We are all going to be has-beens in a couple of years. That's all you are when you finish football and you can't talk to your medals then. You need friends.

"I agreed with a lot of what Roy said about Ireland and I understand what he means when he says we didn't help him out. But we had to get on with it the way we always have.

"I am not the person to tell Roy Keane what is right and what is wrong but I can't understand why he brought the book out now. He should have waited until he was finished.

"He has a lot of anger and frustration building up but I feel he is venting it in the wrong way."