We’ve got to walk the walk, says Keane

ROY KEANE is back in business and ready to lead Man Utd through the biggest challenge of their football careers.

After 12 months disrupted by injury and controversy, Keane has the chance to prove his talent is not on the wane by booting Real Madrid out of the Champions League at Old Trafford.

To mere mortals, handing a team containing Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Ronaldo a two-goal lead would be the equivalent of signing a suicide note.

However, despite a lengthy recovery from hip surgery, the 31-year-old is convinced the performance which galvanised his team to a magnificent semi-final win over Juventus on their way to the European Cup in 1999 can be repeated.

“I am capable of producing that type of performance again,” he said. “A lot has been made of my injuries, which is maybe my own fault, but physically I feel strong, the sharpness is back and I am looking forward to the game.

“We are disappointed to be going into it 3-1 down but our form is good, confidence is really high and the number of chances we are creating is frightening.

“This is the biggest challenge this side has ever faced but we will never be in a better position to rise to it.”

Keane missed the final victory over Bayern Munich because of a booking in the Stadio delle Alpi, which is probably the major reason why he remains so focussed on leading his team to this year’s Old Trafford decider.

If they are to achieve that it will be without suspended duo Paul Scholes and Gary Neville.

Scholes is a huge loss, given his recent return to goalscoring form and puts more pressure on Alex Ferguson to field Juan Sebastian Veron, even though the Argentinian has not played since the beginning of March after suffering a knee ligament injury in the Premiership win over Leeds.

A change in emphasis is also required, according to Keane, if United are to avoid the “Harlem Globetrotters” style performance Real turned in during the first 50 minutes of the opening game.

Ferguson’s insistence that much of Real’s best work did not hurt his side does not quite square with the fact they found themselves 3-0 down until Ruud van Nistelrooy’s predatory instincts grabbed a lifeline.

And Keane feels more pressure must be applied to the star names in the hope of ensuring Real at least leave Old Trafford knowing they have been in a game.

“There is a lot we can learn from the first game,” said the Cork man. “We stood off them too much in the first half and ended up on the back foot.

“Hopefully it will be the other way round this time but no matter what the result we want Real to know they have been in a tough game, which they didn’t in the first half at the Bernabeu.”

Ferguson declared Fabien Barthez fit after the French goalkeeper suffered a thigh muscle injury which forced him out of Saturday’s win over Blackburn at half-time.

Veron and John O’Shea remain doubts though, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Phil Neville standing by.

“Our European form over the last year or two has been very good but the ultimate is going on to win it like Real Madrid have done nine times,” added Keane.

“That is the benchmark I set myself and my team-mates.

“Some people may think it is unfair but that is what we have to do at this club.

“We have gathered a lot of experience and our concentration levels have been a lot better and our patience has been very good, and we will need all that tomorrow if we are to get the right result.

“We have moved on and we have improved but we all felt it was there for us last season and we came unstuck.

“It is all right talking the talk, you have to walk the walk.”