You're simply the best, Roy

13 April 2012

As Sir Alex Ferguson's extraordinary eulogy approached its conclusion here yesterday, the interpreter seated alongside the Manchester United manager realised she had committed something of a faux pas. If the unfortunate fraulein had never heard of Roy Keane prior to the press conference, any sense of curiosity was soon satisfied.

Ask Ferguson to name the players he considers a privilege to have worked with and Keane will always feature among a carefully selected short-list. Bryan Robson usually gets a mention, as does Willie Miller.

Here in Cologne, however, on the eve of yet another Champions League semi-final that represents a disciplinary tightrope for United's inspirational skipper, Keane was thrust to the very pinnacle of Ferguson's appreciation.

'Roy is probably the most influential player we have ever had at this club,' said Ferguson. 'Bryan Robson had the same qualities we're talking about. In that sense they are once-in- a-lifetime players - and I've been lucky enough to work with both of them.

'They have that common denominator, that driving force within themselves that makes those around them play.

'Eric Cantona was the catalyst for what we were trying to achieve at the club. He was a talisman. There were other players, too, like Mark Hughes and Peter Schmeichel, and those I can still trust now like David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt. Roy, though, is different.'

Some would say Keane is the difference, the player with the ability and strength to transform a good United side into a great one.

In the first leg of United's semi-final with Bayer Leverkusen last week he remained on the bench for 82 minutes, and in his absence, because of a hamstring injury, his colleagues struggled to a desperately disappointing 2-2 draw against the impressive Germans.

At the BayArena this evening the outcome could be rather different. Keane is back and ready to give a performance every bit as memorable as his last appearance in a match of this magnitude.

His contribution during United's 3-2 victory over Juventus in Turin three years ago ranks among the finest individual displays ever witnessed on the European stage. He was magnificent, an unbreakable force of energy and aggression.

'It was a selfless display,' recalled Ferguson. 'I think he was booked as early as the 17th or 18th minute and from that moment he knew he couldn't play in the European Cup Final.

'But he was fantastic. I've talked about once-in-a-lifetime players already here today - and that was a onceina-lifetime performance.

'It's difficult to say if one person can be considered solely responsible for getting a team into a final - but he made that kind of impact.

'The fact that he didn't let the yellow card affect him told you something about the man's character, the man's honesty and the care he has for his team-mates. That has always registered in my mind.'

Ferguson anticipates a demonstration of those altruistic qualities Keane revealed at the Stadio delle Alpi, even though he is again just one yellow card away from missing the Hampden final.

'Tomorrow night there will be 13 players on the pitch in Roy's position,' said Ferguson. 'We will play with honesty and hope that the referee understands the importance of the game.

'But I can't ask any player to hold back in this match and I wouldn't expect someone like Roy to consider such a thing anyway.'

Butt, who is in precisely the same predicament as his captain, agreed, saying: 'I won't even think about the consequences of picking up another booking. We will all be giving our best. If it happens, it happens.'

Laurent Blanc and Ruud van Nistelrooy are also in the same precarious position, which for Blanc in particular must be most worrying. The former France defender missed the last World Cup Final thanks to the disgraceful play-acting of Slaven Bilic and another setback of this nature would seem cruel indeed.

United cannot harbour such fears, however. On a night when they must win or draw with three or more goals, there will be little room for sentiment.

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You're simply the best, Roy

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