Roy Keane inspired a heroic return fight against Juventus in a performance that will go down as Manchester United’s biggest individual show.
It was a night that the United captain was a legend. He helped his side reach the Champions League final back in 1999 after a superb midfield.
With the tie evenly balanced at 1-1, the Red Devils went to Turin to face a team that included the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Edgar Davids and Didier Deschamps.
But they were nothing like the Irishman who carried United in his best time for the club.
He ran the show in the park’s engine room, breaking up play and directing attacks – even scoring with a bullet head.
Despite picking up a yellow card that would rule him out of the final, Keane automatically followed as United came from behind to beat Juventus 3-2.
3 days agoSir Alex Ferguson praised Keane, saying: “I didn’t think I could get a higher opinion of any footballer than I already had of the Irishman but he rose even further. in my opinion at Stadio Delle Alpi.
“The minute he was saved and out of the final, he seemed to be doubling his efforts to get the team there.
“It was the most powerful display of selflessness I have ever seen on a football pitch.
“Going over every blade of grass, competing as if he’d rather die of fatigue than lose, he encouraged everyone around him. I felt it was an honor. to be associated with such a player. “
In normal shameless fashion, however, Keane broke his compliment and said he is offending him.
“I am almost offended by such stuff,” he explained. “I get offended when people put such values about me. It is like praising the postman for delivering letters. “
The achievement of a captain who coined the word ‘leader’ on that famous voyage.