Roy Keane doesn’t cut much slack. Of this we are all well, well aware.
Even for the greener, less experienced members of Manchester United’s squad, Keano always expected and demanded more.
Danny Webber, who made a grand total of three appearances for the Red Devils, does not have many memories of his time at Old Trafford but he will never forget his experience with the death stare that has likely kept many players, managers and match officials awake at night.
Big things were expected of Webber after impressing for United’s youth team but he, like many young prospects, failed to make it to the first team.
But at least he has a Keano anecdote to hold with him forever.
Webber, who retired in the summer after two seasons with Salford City, was a guest on BBC 5 Live on Wednesday when he discussed his first run-in with the icy glare of the club’s legendary captain.
Who doesn’t love a Roy Keane story?
Here’s ex #MUFC striker @DanielWebber81 with @PhilWilliams on getting the “Death Stare”…#bbcfootball pic.twitter.com/ASZXT34KbN
— ?ᑕOᑎOᖇ ᗰᑕᑎᗩᗰᗩᖇᗩ (@ConorMcNamaraIE) November 10, 2016
“As a young lad coming into the first team you kind of hope that along the way, people will welcome you softly,” he told Conor McNamara and Phil Williams.
“Roy, to be fair to him, treated everybody the same and he was always fair. I’ve got a lot of time for him, a lot of respect for him. But when I came in and first trained with the first team, if you misplaced a pass you would get the death stare.
“He demanded standards but he was the same across the board. We had a preseason game against Shrewsbury and I remember I’ve run through clean on goal.
“We were about five up or something like that and I’ve run through clean on goal and look to my left. Do I square it to Roy Keane or do I not? I chose no. I’m a striker, I’m going to shoot. I hit the side netting.
“He gave me a stare and I thought ‘I don’t want to go in the same dressing room as him’. We went in afterwards and he tore a strip off me.”
Luckily, Webber lived to tell the tale and had the chance to redeem himself the following summer when he found himself in the exact same situation, with a trigger-happy Irishman waiting to be played in.
“But then, as fate would have it, the following year we’re at York in a preseason game again. I run through clear on goal, I look to the left. Who’s there again?. It’s him!” Webber said.
“I’m thinking ‘what do I do?’ This time I squared it and he did score. He remembered from the year earlier as well.”
