One of the Premier League's most enduring off-pitch moments came in the 1995/96 title run-in, when Kevin Keegan delivered his now-legendary 'I would love it' outburst on live television — a raw display of passion and mounting pressure that has never been forgotten.

The backdrop was a dramatic title race between Keegan's Newcastle United and Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, who clawed back a 12-point deficit from January to ultimately lift the trophy. The psychological battle between the two managers proved as compelling as anything that happened on the pitch.

A rivalry softened by time

Speaking to FourFourTwo in 2007, more than a decade after that intense title tussle, Keegan offered a candid reflection on how he felt in the immediate aftermath of Ferguson's mind games.

"For a day or two I really disliked him," Keegan admitted — a rare moment of bluntness from a man widely remembered for his warmth and enthusiasm.

Yet Keegan was clear that time had dulled the edge of that animosity. Mutual respect and shared experiences in football had gradually reshaped the relationship between the pair.

"I wouldn't say we're close now, but we have talked a lot," Keegan explained. "I've sold players to him, he's sold players to me, I've done charity things for him, he's done them for me."

Respect without affection

When pressed further on his feelings toward the Manchester United manager, Keegan delivered a characteristically sharp response, complete with laughter.

"But if you're asking me, do I love him… [Laughs] I totally respect him. He's managed a huge club for 20 years."

Keegan also took evident satisfaction in pointing to his personal record against Ferguson across their managerial careers.

"I've got a terrific record against Alex Ferguson compared with most people, too," he said. "It probably isn't level, but I've managed teams that have beaten his 5-0, 4-1, 3-1. Two Manchester derbies. So I'd say I've come out relatively well against him."

Keegan passed away last July, and tributes from across the football world highlighted precisely this blend of fierce competitiveness and genuine warmth that defined him — both in the dugout and beyond it.