After missing most of the 1997-98 Premier League season due to a cruciate ligament injury, Roy Keane said he had a chance to reevaluate his game at that stage of his career.
In many ways, Keane felt that at 28 years of age it was a crossroads in his career. "You do analyse your game and I would look at other teams, I would look at other midfielders," Keane said at the Off The Ball roadshow in association with Cadbury.
"Sometimes you need a bad injury to appreciate the game a bit more. Even though I felt I loved the game, maybe though I was taking things for granted," he said.
Keane spoke about the lengths he went to in order to stay fit during the tail end of his career.
"On the other hand then I went to extremes. I look back to the end of my career and I took diets to the extremes.
"I remember I went to a detox in Milan and I heard that they don't feed you for four or five days.
" I said 'surely they offer you a pizza or something?', they don't feed you for four or five days," the former Manchester United midfielder said.
Extreme diet
In terms of what he ate at the time, the Corkman was finding it hard to adjust to a much leaner diet.
"When you play in the middle of the park in Premiership games salads will not do, f*cking trust me.
"You need a bit of red meat and so I went from being a bit of a fool going out and about drinking, to going too far with my diets.
"Eventually I caught myself on and what I try and do now is everything in moderation," Keane said.
While both Keane and Gary Neville spoke about the nights out they had with Manchester United, Neville said they weren't as bad as other teams around the same time, mainly bitter rivals Liverpool.
"I think we were fitter and more professional, you remember the Spice Boys at the time.
"Jamie Redknapp, David James, Steve McMananman, Robbie Fowler and Jason McAteer, all them lads loved a pint.
"A pint of beer will cost you the league... if you drink 10 a night, three times a week!" Neville stated.
Off The Ball were in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre with Roy Keane and Gary Neville with thanks to Cadbury, who are celebrating their third year as 'Official Snack Partner' to the Premier League.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
