Keane - the hungry fighter

Roy Keane takes the long walk against Manchester City

BBC Sport Online's chief football writer Phil McNulty investigates the turbulent season of Manchester United and Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane.

It started with a prawn sandwich and ended with a double helping of sweet and sour - an almost inevitable conclusion to the season for the hungriest player at Manchester United.

Roy Keane hit the headlines when he compained about the "prawn sandwich" brigade who sit in silence and wait to be entertained at Old Trafford.

And he was the central figure in a week which started with United completing a title treble, then going out of Europe to Bayern Munich before boiling over with an assault on Manchester City's Alfie Haaland.

Ferguson understands Keane

Keane's tackle on Haaland was high, late, dangerous and shameful - but a predictable end to a series of events that frustrated the football life out of the fiercest competitor in the Premiership.

Keane took his growing frustration out on an old foe when he took Haaland out. They had history and Keane wanted to write the last word.

He had suffered as Manchester United went out of the Champions League to Bayern Munich, complained as he warned it could be the end of an era at Manchester United, and fumed as a complacent side allowed Manchester City back into the Old Trafford derby.

The players gave it their all, but we are just not good enough and maybe it's time to move on

  Manchester United's Roy Keane on Europe

The cumulative effect was felt by Haaland's right knee - but the applause that followed Keane down the Old Trafford tunnel reflected the esteem in which he is held by United's supporters.

Keane burns for success as much - if not more - than many of those who watch at the so-called "Theatre of Dreams".

He will have felt the pain of Munich more than many of his colleagues because he missed out on the glory and drama of the 1999 Champions League final through suspension.

Keane was in on the celebrations, but in reality he was robbed of his rightful place at the defining moment of the modern Manchester United era.

And he has been like a bear with a sore head as United's stroll to the title failed to compensate him for shortcomings in Europe.

Keane's outspoken season started with his now infamous "prawn sandwich" attack on United's corporate fans, who he felt preferred hospitality to supporting the team.

Keane confronts Haaland

And even the Football Association of Ireland failed to escape the wrath of "Mr Angry" as he threatened to quit international football after the recent win in Cyprus.

Keane was angered by the team's Irish training camp conditions and also the fact that players were forced to sit behind officials on the flight.

He said: "For me that is not right. The priority has got to be the team and I do not think that has always been the case.

"Where we trained in Clonshaugh was abysmal and it has been for as long as I've known it."

Keane hinted he would prefer to spend time with his close-knit family rather than travel on international duty if it continued - and you can be sure it won't now as the captain has spoken.

And he rounded off a triple whammy with a thinly-veiled suggestion that his United team-mates were not up to the job of conquering Europe's elite.

He said: "The players gave it their all, but we are just not good enough and maybe it's time to move on."

Keane's comments were allegedly less than well-received by his colleagues, but you can be sure what he says is what his manager Sir Alex Ferguson is feeling.

And you suspect if Fergie had laced up his boots and played in the Manchester derby, somebody would have paid a similar price to Haaland for his own frustration.

Where we trained in Clonshaugh was abysmal and it has been for as long as I've known it

  Manchester United's Roy Keane on the Republic of Ireland

Keane's physical excesses and outspoken comments are tolerated by Ferguson and accepted by the United fans because of who he is, and what he is.

He is the spirit and fire of Ferguson on the field, his eyes, ears and voice, and plays like the most passionate Manchester United fan would play if they pulled on the shirt.

It explains the burning frustration Keane has felt in a season when a title victory is not real compensation for another season of under-achievement in Europe.

Keane's words ring true, and while his tackle on Haaland cannot be excused, it will at least be understood by his manager and supporters.