A bit done, still a lot more to do

Roy Keane is happy with his contribution since his return but is not yet ready to accept the role of father figure, writes Mary Hannigan

Last week, before the Republic of Ireland squad departed for Paris, two players who had as much chance of playing against France as Johnny Giles and Eamon Dunphy were presented to the media for a pre-match chat. Arriving at Lansdowne Road yesterday the general fear was - and no offence was intended - Nick Colgan and Paddy Kenny would be the men chosen to sit behind the microphones.

So, when Roy Keane strolled into the pavilion alongside Brian Kerr, after the squad's training session, there was a sudden frantic demand for spare sets of batteries for tape recorders. All present awoke from their slumber.

It had, after all, been a while since he had appeared at one of these gatherings. So many questions, where do you start? The openers were tame enough. Then came the tester.

Remember? The 2-2 draw in Amsterdam, September 2000? Ireland had led Holland 2-0, but conceded twice in the last 19 minutes. Didn't dampen the celebrations, though. Olé Olé.

Then Keane had said: "We have to start giving ourselves a bit more credit. We have good players and you get a bit sick and tired of the whole, 'well the Irish will have a good time no matter what the result,' stuff. Sure the fans will be happy with tonight and rightly so. But we're professionals and we have to raise our targets a bit. Sometimes the players even underestimate themselves."

Four years and a month later Keane is asked if he has similar feelings about the reaction to Saturday's draw in Paris. Kerr, sitting beside him, doesn't blink.

How did you feel about Saturday? Any slight bit of regret that you didn't win?

"Regret, no," he said, "but I don't think there's any need to be jumping around the streets either, hugging and crying - which seemed to happen before when we got a half-decent result.

"A lot has changed in that way with Brian and the staff, in terms of ambition, and the players sense that. Yes, there was satisfaction after the game, but we know that there's a long way to go yet. But yeah, the ambition is definitely a lot higher than it used to be. Thank God."

Is this squad good enough to go to the World Cup and be genuine challengers?

"Well, I felt before when we did qualify that seemed to be the end of it. People celebrating and relaxing too much. Things have changed. But we've a game tomorrow night, we can't look beyond that, it would be disrespectful to the team we're playing.

"We've been in football long enough to know that it can turn around and kick you in the teeth."

How well do you feel the team played against France?

"Ah, I think we did quite well. Over the last few years a lot of young players have had that extra bit of experience and I think it showed the other night, it was quite a mature performance. But we know that's history now and you've got to remember that the likes of France and Switzerland are more than capable of coming to Lansdowne and getting a result. So, on the one hand it was a decent result, but let's not get carried away with it either - there's a long way to go yet."

Is this as good an Irish team as you've played in?

"It's a hard question to answer, it would be disrespectful to the earlier players, it's hard to compare different teams. But this team is very strong, the players who didn't play the other night, who are very good players, are putting the ones who did under pressure. I've been impressed with the attitude of the lads who didn't play. It's very easy to feel sorry for yourself but they've shown great attitude in training, everyone's under pressure for their position, really."

A more coherent performance than in Basel?

"Well, maybe so, but you have to remember it's still early in the group. They were parts of the game in Switzerland when we did well, parts when we didn't do so well, but we got a draw, and getting draws away from home against decent opposition seems to be getting harder. But you'd like to think that we will improve over the campaign - and we need to if we're going to qualify."

In what aspects?

"All aspects. It would have been nice to have nicked a goal the other night, but, you know, we'll see after tomorrow night how far we've come since the campaign started."

How do you feel you've done since you came back for Ireland?

"I think I've done okay. My performances could have been better but I think I've contributed to the team and that will always be the priority, the team. Hopefully there's a lot more to come from me yet."

You were critical of some of your own performances earlier in the season - how did you think you did against France?

"Ah, I thought I could have done better, second half I thought I was poor. But, as I said, I'd like to think I still contributed to the team. If I keep doing that and we keep getting results then I'll be fairly happy. But like any player you're always hoping to improve on your performance, even if other people say you've done well - if you're honest with yourself you know there's plenty of room for improvement. "

Why do you think it is that you haven't performed to the level you would expect of yourself?

"I don't know. I'm working hard, I'm preparing as well as I can, I'm looking after myself, but I do feel it's still early in the season and I like to think I improve as the season goes on. I usually peak around May."

Other older players have retired from international football because they found it too hard, along with club football - how have you found it since being back?

"It's not being too bad because at (Manchester) United I've been part of the squad rotation recently, so I've been getting plenty of breaks," he said, smiling a smile that suggests he's not overjoyed about being "rotated".

"But no, it's been okay. I had to take that into the equation when I came back, the fixtures, but it was something I felt I wanted to do and I feel it has been the right decision. I've enjoyed coming back and I feel I've been able to contribute to both United and Ireland 100 per cent. I've got this year and next year, a lot of people think maybe I'm on my last legs, but I hope I've got a bit to give yet."

Are you enjoying your role in the squad as a "father figure" to the younger players?

"'Father figure'," he squirms, Kerr chuckling beside him. "Well, if I can help the younger players, by the way I train, how I look after myself, then well and good.

"Hopefully I bring a bit of experience to the team, but these players have gained a lot of experience themselves, they're all playing at a very high level.

"I just have a quiet word if they come and look for advice. General conversations at the dinner table, speak about the way I prepare for games, how I work on my recovery after games, just small little things really, nothing major because they're all very good players in their own right. I just try to help them with bits and pieces really."

Do you feel you need breathers now in games - 10, 15 minutes - that you wouldn't have needed a few years ago?

"Yeah, maybe so, maybe so. I've had to adapt my game over the last year or two, but that happens to any footballer really. But from the start of my career I've been a team player so I feel, in that sense, I can still contribute to Ireland and United.

"I feel I'm not too bad of a player. I have something to contribute. Simple as that."