Keano
ALEX FERGUSON went upstairs to bed last night knowing that he wasguaranteed
a stress-free sleep. It has been that way since Roy Keane returned to
Manchester United action after 11 months out recovering from a cruciateknee
ligament operation.
Not just because Keane has hit a sensational streak of form to driveUnited
to a magnificent seven victories at home and in Europe.
But also because the devil inside the Irishman has gone missing sincehis
comeback to the big-time at the start of the season.
Keane has not been cautioned in Champions' League combat and he enters
tonight's clash with Brondby at Old Trafford a reformed character in
Fergie's eyes.
He says: "I suppose as Roy gets older there's always the hope that thefiery
bit in him will evaporate just a little.
"Just enough to give me a few more nights' sleep. But you don't want totake
that competitive streak out of him."That's what makes him the player he is.
"I honestly think Keane makes a difference in terms of the security hegives
us in midfield.
"He doesn't give the ball away. He's a good tackler and his qualitiesare
emerging all the time for us.
"The counter-attack isn't such a threat against us when Keane isplaying. I
think he's hit a great level of performance now.
"And I would say he is near his best-ever form. The one ray of hope wasthat
plenty of players have recovered from that injury,
"Ten years ago we would have been worried. It would have beendifferent. But
Roy's attitude has been very positive. Some players let serious injury
affect them.
"Roy, though was a great patient. He worked really hard to get fit andthere
was always the hope that he would come back,"
Ferguson is delighted that Keane's inspiration has rubbed off onteam-mates
around him.
And he fully expects keeper Peter Schmeichel to rule United's goal foryears
to come.Schmeichel was heavily criticised for his last-second mistake in Munich
andhe was a target once more for the snipers because of Brondby's free-kick
goal in Copenhagen two weeks ago.
But Ferguson hits back, saying: "I have absol-utely no problem inplaying
Peter. And I have no regrets, either.
"If he makes rare mistakes and it costs us important games, I stilldon't
have to defend his reputation as a goalkeeper since he arrived at thisclub.
"In the past he has saved us time and time again.
"You have to balance it all out with the number of times he's won usgames
through making magnificent saves when we didn't expect to get a result.
"All Peter needed to do was to get back into normal training after his
stomach muscle injury and that's when you can see him at his best."
Schmeichel is still a formidable force between his sticks and coupledwith
the power of Keane, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, it is no wonder thatBrondby
are already running scared before a ball is kicked.
Coach Ebbe Skovdahl witnessed the slaughter of Everton at Goodison on
Saturday when United played some of their best football as they pingedthe
ball around on the floor to run out 4-1 winners.
That took them to within a point of Aston Villa at the top of the
Premiership, and already the signs are looking ominous for theMidlanders.
Add that to the six-goal mauling that Brondby suffered in Copenhagen,and
Skovdahl is expecting the worse.
He says: "United have four very great players in Yorke, Cole, Keane and
Schmeichel. I was at Everton on Saturday and was astonished at the
performance of Keane. He's a very dangerous man.
"Keane always seems to be in the right place at the right time, whetherit's
defending or attacking. He's a magnificent captain for United. Cole and
Yorke played together very well in Copenhagen. They pose a very serious
threat in this game, too.
"The way they are playing now they are almost unstoppable. If we goback to
Denmark having lost by no more than one or two goals, it would be like a
victory for Brondby.
Skipper John Jensen is waving the white flag too and says: "United aremy
team to win this tournament and become European champions.
"They have the best and most powerful squad. They are easily the bestteam I
have seen this season."
Fergie will resist making changes, although he will play Denis Irwin in
place of talented kid Wes Brown in defence.
 

[Results] [News] [Reports] [Pictures] [Bundesliga] [Board] [Profile] [Youth Profile] [1997/98] [1996/97] [Gallery] [Becks' Gallery] [Help] [FAQ] [History] [Honours] [Links] [Far East Tour] [Me] [Sign Guestbook] [View Guestbook]

since 21.3.98

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page