Manchester United skipper Roy Keane wants to silence his doubters by playing on for three more years at Old Trafford.
Fears have been raised over the 31-year-old midfielder's ability to continue to compete at the highest level as he battles to regain his best form following hip and knee surgery last season.
But, as with so many other critical points in his career, Keane is determined the critics will be proved wrong.
"People are saying I'm not the player I was and I'm finished with football," said Keane.
"I've been a professional for 13 years and had a lot of pats on the back but this is the worst criticism I have had in my career.
"You have to try not to get too carried away with the success and try not to get too down with all the negative stuff.
"I have not played as well as I can but I am not playing as badly as some are suggesting. I am more than confident I will be as good as ever and playing at the top level for another three years.
"Please God, I have three years left at Manchester United but if not I still think I will be playing at the top level somewhere."
Controversy is never far from Keane. The tough-tackling and equally tough-talking Irishman has become as infamous for what he says off the pitch as what he does on it.
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, though, would not have Keane any other way and he values the midfielder's forthright views.
Ferguson sees his captain as his enforcer in the dressing room. Keane's drive and determination alone have won more games than United supporters would care to count, have turned around seemingly lost causes into dramatic victories.
Ferguson believes that Keane will be an "absolutely brilliant" manager if he moves into the dug-out when he hangs up his boots.
Keane has admitted he would like to move into management when he retires as a player and Ferguson insists the Irishman has the potential to make the transition.
"Absolutely no doubt about that. If he wants to do it he'll be an absolutely brilliant manager," said Ferguson.
Keane has revealed he has taken the first tentative steps towards becoming a coach. - even though he stresses he wants to play on for three more years.
Keane says he has spoken to Steve McClaren - now Middlesbrough's manager after a spell as assistant at Old Trafford - about the coaching road he needs to take. "Being 32 in August you start to think of these things," said Keane.
"If you had asked me two years ago about management, I would have told you it wasn't even on my mind.
"Now as I have got a bit older, I have spoken to Steve McClaren and one or two other people and started to think along those lines about getting my coaching badges and being a manager some day.
"It is a road I think I would like to go down but again it is dangerous thinking too far ahead.