Roy Keane: 'Manchester United training was more competitive... Saturday's were almost a day off', says former skipper

Keane has blasted United's Premier League rivals

(Getty Images)

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has blasted the quality of the opponents he used to face during his playing career.

Keane, now assistant to Martin O'Neill with the Republic of Ireland, won seven Premier League titles, the FA Cup four times and the Champions League in a brilliant 12-year spell at Old Trafford.

But Keane has appeared to diminish his own success by claiming that training was often more competitive than Premier League matches at the weekend.

"Saturdays were almost a day off for Manchester United because training games were harder than league games," he said at a charity event.

The former midfielder also added that he was relieved that social media was not around at the time he was playing.

"If there was social media in my time as a player, I'd be in prison!"

Keane also revealed that he wants to return to management: "Long term do I see myself getting back into management? Yes. I think there will be a job out there for me and hopefully I can do a good one.

"It's all ifs and ands [speaking on his future with Ireland]. If we didn't qualify, do the FAI want to keep us on? That's a big question mark. Would Martin want to stay on? Martin's a very proud man. If he did stay on, would he want me to say on with him? If he's gone obviously I'm gone. Even if Martin stays on do I want to get back into the driving seat myself? We'll see, we'll see.

"I'm enjoying the job. Do I see myself here in two years? Who knows."