Paulo Sousa is ready to go head to head with former playing rival Roy Keane on Saturday

Both managers have Champions League experience under their belts and have faced at the semi final stage of the competition as well as on the international stage.

And coming face to face with the under pressure Irishman is something that the Swansea boss is looking forward to as he told the Evening Post

"It is a pleasure to have played against Roy Keane in our national teams and in the Champions League," he said.

"He was a very competitive player who understood the game well.

"He had good technique and he was very aggressive without the ball. He was a clever player.

"He played with important players and with important clubs and he worked hard to develop himself.

"I'm pleased to have played against him because of all that — and also because I think I won every time!

"When you change the manager you have to give time to the new people," Sousa said.

"It's not an easy job and it's important to have the protection and help that you need to get through difficult moments.

"I know results are very important, but sometimes people take decisions too quickly.

"One of the good things in English football is that managers are usually given more time to do a good job — more than in other countries — and I hope Roy Keane can turn things round at Ipswich.

"He was an important player and he did a good job at Sunderland so I hope he can do it, but only after they have played us of course.

"Things are different for us now," Sousa smiled.

"It's much more fun to play, especially in the semi-final of the Champions League.

"This is a different moment in our lives and of course with all the respect I have for Roy and his players, we want to go there and win."

Photo: Action Images

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