Keane: Mourinho is a disgrace - and lucky he hasn't been punched

Aston Villa assistant manager Keane, who has already created waves in the football world this week with the release of his autobiography, was asked at the launch of the book in Dublin about Mourinho's early handshake before the end of Chelsea's win over Villa.

Two weeks ago the Chelsea boss decided he had seen enough before the full-time whistle had sounded and offered his hand to his Villa counterpart Paul Lambert, who refused to shake hands, instead pointing to his watch to indicate it was not yet time for such formalities.

Keane, who sat next to Lambert and merely ignored Mourinho when he was tapped on the shoulder, was also left seething by the incident, and suggested the Portuguese would have been punched if he had acted the same way during a park game.

“I don’t mind all that but the game is still going on. It’s disgraceful, I’ve seen him doing it to other managers, it’s a disgrace," Keane said.

“The game is still going on. You wouldn’t do that on a Sunday morning, you would get knocked out.”

Asked if he saw Mourinho's gesture as disrespectful, Keane said: “What do you think? That’s a stupid question. Yeah.”

Keane, added: “I’m not sure I’d have liked playing for Mourinho. He plays too many mind games with the media.

“I understand the need for games. But there comes a point when you think, ‘Don’t play mind games today’. And poking the Barcelona coach in the eye - I wouldn’t have done that.

“If I was still a player today, I’d like to think I could work with Pep Guardiola. I like his style, and his presence, and the way he conducts himself.”