In a reflective piece about the 1995/96 Premier League season, former Newcastle United defender Steve Howey shares insights into the dressing room's atmosphere following Kevin Keegan's infamous 'I'd love it' rant. Howey recounts the tension leading up to that moment, highlighting how Keegan's frustration with Sir Alex Ferguson's mind games led to a ban on team outings the week of crucial matches. The unique camaraderie of the squad and the impact of external pressures, particularly from Manchester United, crystallized into Keegan's passionate response, which resonated deeply with the Newcastle players.
It was weird, because that was the week we played Leeds, with just a few matches left, and usually we went out on a Wednesday night for a few drinks.
Ferguson had stoked the fire by suggesting that Nottingham Forest... might let the Magpies win, while also suggesting teams tried harder to beat Manchester United than they did Newcastle.
We got on the bus to leave and were watching the TV screen when Kevin came on ranting. Listen: we weren't surprised one bit.
But you can only imagine how much Fergie enjoyed it.
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