'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has confirmed that his former assistant Roy Keane did go to midfielder Tom Cleverly’s residence earlier this week but he added that the former Manchester United captain did not ring the doorbell for 15 minutes as was reported earlier. Keane quit his job as Lambert’s assistant at Villa, after he felt that it was hard to manage two teams at the same time.
The 43-year-old apparently wanted to have a confrontation about the recent “leaks” from the dressing room with regard to his tenure at the club.
Keane did come to Cleverly’s house: Lambert
Lambert admitted that the Sun’s report about Keane going to the 25-year-old’s house was right but added that Cleverley had assured him there was no truth to all the stories that were being reported in the media.
“I spoke to Tom this morning really briefly and he assures me that what is being portrayed is certainly not what happened. That was it, really. I’ve probably spoken about Roy more since he’s left than when he was here. I think you [should] give the guy a break.
“From the brief chat I had with Tom, it certainly wasn’t how it was portrayed. That was what Tom told me this morning.”
Several reports have emerged in recent weeks about the Republic of Ireland manager having a strained relationship with many of the senior players in the squad.
Roy and I are friends: Lambert
When Lambert was asked whether Keane was unhappy about such stories emerging out of the club, the 45-year-old said that the two are good friends and the matter is now closed.
“No. I spoke to Roy. We’re good pals, not just in this regard but we’re good pals in general and that will always be the same.
“Roy’s obviously got his Ireland role to contend with and work on, trying to qualify for Euro 2016. There’s no problem on that side. He’s my pal. I spoke to Tom and the matter is finished,” Lambert said.
Aston Villa’s next fixture is against Keane’s former club Manchester United at home on Saturday.
