Roy Keane autobiography: Pablo Counago hits back at Keane, branding him a 'coward' and a 'complete mess of a manager'

Keane had called Counago 'dead lazy' in his book, which is released today

Pablo Counago (left) and Roy Keane (GETTY IMAGES)

Pablo Counago has hit back at former manager Roy Keane, for criticising him in his latest autobiography, branding the Irishman a "coward" and a "complete mess of a manager".

In his new book, The Second Half, Keane labelled Counago as "dead lazy" and revealed that he "nearly physically attacked" the Spaniard during his time as Ipswich Town manager.

"I could say lots of awful things about him but I don't feel right speaking about him, I feel sorry for him. That's why whatever he says about me I don't take offence, even though he's not telling the truth about me," Counago told Ipswich fan site TWTD.co.uk.

"It seems like he needs to criticise players, managers and directors to keep selling books as he is not able to do anything else in football. It is a very sad ending for a person that was so big as a player.

"As I told him once, I think he is a complete mess as a football manager. As he has said in his book, he wanted to hit me, but behind his appearance there's a coward.

"I just hope he can find happiness in his life as, in my opinion, being that miserable must be very mentally draining."