If there's one thing we've learned from watching Roy Keane as both a player and pundit, it's that he doesn't easily forget.
Christian Eriksen came to realise exactly that following his man of the match performance in Manchester United 's emphatic 3-1 win against Arsenal on Sunday. While Keane was delighted that Eriksen helped his former club to victory, the Irishman made sure to remind the current Red Devils ace of his past sins.
Back in November 2017, Eriksen's sensational hat-trick powered Denmark to the World Cup finals at the Republic of Ireland 's expense. The two nations clashed in Dubin for the second leg of their play-off tie with a place in Russia on the line, having drawn 0-0 in Copenhagen just three days earlier.
Keane was on the touchline as Ireland manager Martin O'Neill 's assistant, but the United legend was powerless to stop Eriksen from firing his country to a 5-1 Dublin demotion. On Sunday, Keane crossed paths with his old tormentor whilst covering the Premier League clash for Sky Sports.
As Eriksen walked over to the Sky crew for his post-match interview alongside presenter Dave Jones, Arsenal icon Paul Merson, Chelsea great Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and another ex-Red Devils captain in Gary Neville, Keane was initially less welcoming of the United midfielder than his colleagues.
"I'm not going to ask you a question because I'm still upset about when you scored in Dublin," he joked. "I'll pass on it, I'm still upset with you." Eriksen cheekily replied with a wry smile: "I thought so. It's a good night out as well Dublin." Laughing, Keane responded: "Yeah I bet you did!"
While his dazzling display at Old Trafford didn't contain three goals like five years ago in the Irish capital, Eriksen managed assist for Marcus Rashford 's second goal which sealed the game for Erik ten Hag 's side.
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But his all-round play was what made him the star man, with Neville saying: "Eriksen, I have to say has been very, very good over the last couple of weeks. I think he is, I'd have said Gabriel Jesus up until 65 minutes all day long but Eriksen's contribution makes me give him man of the match."
The man himself was also pleased after the Red Devils' fourth successive Premier League win. "It was a fun football game, a lot of things were happening. It was a good result, a lovely afternoon," Eriksen stated before shedding light on United's recent turnaround under Ten Hag.
"I think it started with winning, even the games with 1-0 have built something in the team, you feel it as team, as a player." he added. "The training pitch, the game, we’re starting to understand each other, we know where to pass, where to stand."
