Watch the video , it's every touch he had in the game , is it REALLY a 10/10 performance ?
The trouble is, watching only the touches of the ball doesn't demonstrate the influence Keane had on the team performance that night - he was the catalyst, no doubt about it.
There are different reasons for a 10/10 rating. For a forward it might be that he is unplayable and scores a hat trick against a solid defence. For a defender it might be that he is unbeatable and keeps out a top quality attack. For a midfielder, it might be this....
"It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt such an honour to be associated with such a player."
~Alex Ferguson on Roy Keane's performance in the 1999 Champions League semi-final
Then again, this wasn't unusual for Keane.
Andy Cole described Keane's driving force in United's group stage match against Barcelona the same season: -
"He simply refused to contemplate the idea of defeat to a side rated as the best in the world in their home stadium.
"He would not entertain that idea and drove that team forward. He even set up a goal for Yorke to score as we drew 3-3 on the way to winning the competition, though Yorke could have scored six and it would not have been enough for Roy.
"His motivation worked. He only wanted the best."
So to be fair, the performance was almost normal for Keane and it is probably the nature of the semi-final victory, leading the team to victory from the jaws of defeat, that took Keane's rating from 9.5/10 to maximum marks.
Incidentally, it is interesting to look at some of the midfield names Keane and United overcame in that season's competition, amongst others...
- Luis Enrique at Barcelona
- Diego Simeone at Inter
- Antonio Conte at Juventus
All captains and leaders who drove their team on and would go back to manage the club where they achieved legendary status in their playing career.
Likewise, will Roy Keane, the most successful and influential captain in the club's history, one day be offered the chance to inspire again, as manager of Manchester United?