Sports Psychologist Was 'Shocked' by What He Witnessed on First Day at Man Utd

A sports psychologist has recalled being "shocked" after witnessing a training ground incident on his first day at Manchester United.

Bill Beswick, who joined United in 1999 on the recommendation of Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant manager Steve McLaren, was employed to help motivate some of football's most high-profile names.

In his own words, Beswick provided support for the players, both mentally and emotionally. He would help those in the limelight deal with the pressures and stresses that came with playing in front of millions.

Gary Neville, for example, turned to the sports psychologist during a period of self-doubt, when his form collapsed in 2000 following a disastrous performance in United's World Club Championship clash against Vasco da Gama.

Looking back at his two-year spell in Manchester, Beswick has so many stories to tell, including a training ground incident involving Roy Keane that summed up his mentality.

Keane demanded 100 per cent from all of his teammates. Image credit: Getty

Speaking on the Freedom Pact podcast, Beswick gave an insight into Keane's mindset.

“He challenged everybody, he was brilliant," said Beswick. “He made everybody around him 10% better because he would not accept mediocrity. He would tell everyone the truth – I called him the ultimate truth-teller.

“If you played poorly, he would tell you. If you weren’t making an effort, he would tell you. As a result, you began to play for Roy and play to his standards.

“I was at Manchester United for two years, and sometimes I saw the impact on the players around him. Sometimes, with the best will in the world, when the sky is black and cold, you don’t really feel like putting the effort in.

“But Roy would go out there and his standard would be 100%, no excuses."

Keane was the ultimate competitor. He wanted his teammates to hold themselves to the highest standards in training, something Beswick witnessed on his first day at United.

Speaking to Keep It On The Deck, he recalled: “The first day I went to Manchester United, I was watching eight versus eight possession. Roy Keane – who’s a warrior, not just an athlete, not just a competitor but a warrior, the mindset of a warrior – his team have got possession.

“Denis Irwin has got the ball. He’s looking up, he’s trapped, he’s going to lose the ball. Roy Keane makes a beautiful run and signals ‘Denis!’ where he wants the ball. Denis doesn’t see him, doesn’t hear him, doesn’t respond and loses the ball.

“Roy Keane ran 40 yards to challenge his teammate: ‘Get your head up.’ I was shocked.”

Beswick added: “I was stood next to Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United. “He said, 'Son, now you know why we win on a Saturday.'"

Keane and Irwin pictured during the 1999-2000 campaign. Image credit: Getty

Keane has previously acknowledged Beswick's influence on Ferguson's United side.

"I know Bill well, he was very good when he worked with Manchester United," said Keane in 2007. "As a United player I'd speak to Bill, just for about four hours a day, though! No, seriously, I couldn't get in there - Gary Neville was with him all the time.

"It was all very relaxed with Bill. Some players would see him every day, some would see him once a year, some lads had no interest."

"I always enjoyed, and still enjoy, speaking to Bill and I spoke to him when I first got the job here," added Keane. "It's not all psychological stuff, it's just like having a conversation with someone and it was all very casual at United. Bill's a human being as well and we'd talk about all sorts."