Ferguson backs Robson's Irish role

Interview: Mary Hannigan talks to Alex Ferguson about Bobby Robson's role, the departure of Roy Keane and his ongoing rebuilding programme

There probably aren't many people Alex Ferguson would forgive for disturbing him while he tries to figure out Channel 4's afternoon conundrum, but he didn't hold it against Bobby Robson, his fellow footballing knight of the realm, when he arrived at his front door six weeks ago.

"I was sitting in my house, it was about four o'clock, I was watching Countdown, or something like that, and the doorbell goes," said Ferguson. "It was Bobby! He just turned up at my door! He'd been doing a book-signing in Manchester and he said 'I'll go out and see Alex'. Which was 30 miles away. I couldn't get rid of him, it was nearly seven o'clock! Two and half, three hours of talking football. He's a fantastic man, he really is. And he's unquestionably the most enthusiastic man I've ever met. Unbelievable."

Ferguson, in Dublin yesterday to launch Ireland's first home-based professional cycling team - Team Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group - expressed confidence in Robson's ability to help managerial novice Steve Staunton ease into the Irish job.

"Steve Staunton doesn't have any experience, none at all, but Bobby will give him everything, I've absolutely no doubt about that, because that's the kind of man he is. And I think the kind of job Bobby's got with Ireland will be right up his street.

"He said to me that day, 'I've got to get back in the game'; I said: 'Bobby, Christ, you're 73 - give yourself a rest'. But no, he wants to drive on, and that's a great example to Steve Staunton in his first job, and it's great for him to have someone like Bobby Robson working beside him."

Asked about the departure of his former captain, Roy Keane, from Manchester United Ferguson simply commented that "it was just the time to go".

"Roy, I think, will go on to be a manager. There's no question about that. He had to start somewhere, I see his next stage as a manager. I had 11 great years with the lad, he was fantastic for me, without question the best player I had. His drive and what he demanded of himself was a great influence on all the players in the dressingroom.

"He was an incredible player for us but it was just the time to go, just the time to part, that happens. The problem is you fall in love with your players because of what they've done for you and what they've been to you. I don't need to play so age doesn't worry me, but it worries every player. It comes to the stage when a lad has to leave.

"When I say Roy Keane was the best player I ever had the distinction is this: Eric Cantona, ability-wise, you couldn't compare him with Roy. He had a vision no other player had. But Roy, in terms of influence, driving himself, driving everyone around about him, determination, I just saw myself in Roy, and I saw Roy in me. Eric was just the complete footballer, marvellous vision, the chest out, strutting about, sometimes he would look at you with that look, as if to say (cue Ferguson putting on a not entirely convincing French accent) 'are you mad?'."

Ferguson conceded that it has been a frustrating season for United, not least in light of their early elimination from the Champions League, but, he insisted, it would take time for his "rebuilding" to bear fruit.

"It's frustrating when you're building a new team because all the exploits of the past are soon forgotten," he said. "I've had to build a new team four or five times at the club, in 19½ years.

"When you're making the changes, when you're bringing young people in, the one thing you cannot get is consistency. You have to wait for that, maturity comes with years."

"At the moment we really have a young squad but that's forgotten because Manchester United is the biggest club in the world, really, in terms of its profile - when we do something good it's back page, if we do something bad it's front page."