MARTIN KEOWN APOLOGISES TO RUUD VAN NISTELROOY BEFORE PRE-MATCH INTERVIEW AND IT’S MUST-WATCH VIEWING

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Martin Keown settled their differences in a slightly awkward, but heartwarming interview ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash between Leicester City and Arsenal.
Ahead of kick-off at the King Power, former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy – who now manages Leicester – said he had never crossed paths with Keown after football – and probably for good reason.
Back in 2003, then-Arsenal defender Keown memorably sparked a huge brawl at Old Trafford when he celebrated in the face of Van Nistelrooy after the Dutchman missed a penalty.
More than two decades later and the pair reunited as the Dutchman spoke to TNT Sports ahead of the clash between Arsenal and Leicester at the King Power.
As you can see from the footage below, Keown was on punditry duty alongside Joe Cole when Van Nistelrooy made his way over to the media area.
Moments later, Keown delivered a line that was years in the making. “Apologies for all the shenanigans that went on back in the day,” he said, before Van Nistelrooy played down the incident.”What happens on the pitch, stays on the pitch,” said the former United forward. “No, it was good, they were good rivalries, weren’t they?”
Keown then replied: “Oh, great days. I’m glad you’re standing there and not next to me because you loved to stamp on me.”
Van Nistelrooy, clearly amused by the interaction, replied: “I would like to block you out as well, and then fall over.”
Speaking about the missed penalty, the Leicester manager added: “Back in 2003, I was gutted to miss the penalty. That was the big thing. It was my responsibility to win the game for my team, and I didn’t do that.”
He added: “Other than that, I wasn’t really bothered by what happened, as I was only focused on trying to help United win trophies.”Of course the competition was always fantastic and in 2004, in the same fixture, there was another penalty moment and that for me is what it’s about.”You step up again and this time you score. You can see in my emotion with the celebration after the second one that it meant a lot to me.”