The dig was aimed at Leeds.
Keegan was in charge of an exciting Newcastle United side who had been 12 points clear at the top of the table in January 1996 and seemingly destined for their first top-flight title in 69 years.
But the Magpies had been overtaken by Ferguson's Manchester United in a fascinating title race.
After edging to a narrow win against a 10-man Leeds United team, who had been forced to play defender Lucas Radebe in goal for most of the match, Ferguson questioned the Yorkshire side's integrity and queried whether they would put up such a fight in their forthcoming match against Newcastle.
The Scot had also made a reference to Stuart Pearce, whose Nottingham Forest side were due to play Newcastle in the Premier League as well as in a testimonial for the England international. The intimation was that the clubs' cosy relationship might result in Forest taking it easy on the Magpies.
Newcastle responded by beating Leeds 1-0 to move three points behind Man Utd with a match in hand, and only two left to play. But the pressure mounting on Keegan, helped by Ferguson's mind games, became all too apparent as he exploded in his post-match interview for Sky Sports, roaring, "I'll love it if we beat them".
The famous rant is considered by many to be the moment when the title was won as, unfortunately for Keegan, Newcastle drew their final two matches and Man Utd clinched their third Premier League title in four years.
