Keane says United face biggest ever challenge

Manchester Unitedface their biggest ever challenge when they try to overturn a3-1 first-leg deficit against Real Madrid in their…

Manchester Unitedface their biggest ever challenge when they try to overturn a3-1 first-leg deficit against Real Madrid in their ChampionsLeague quarter-final, according to captain Roy Keane.

Real outclassed United in the first leg at the BernabeuStadium on Tuesday but Ruud van Nistelrooy's away goal forUnited means the English club are not quite dead and buried.

"This would be the biggest ever. There is no doubt, it's thebiggest challenge this team will ever face," midfielder Keanesaid on United's official website on Wednesday.

"But that is what football is all about. People will expectus to go out so there is nothing to lose.

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"This Real Madrid team are convinced that if they concedethree or four goals, they will score four or five. It will be afantastic game and, with the fans behind us, we'll see whathappens."

Van Nistelrooy's goal means a 2-0 win would suffice for AlexFerguson's side at Old Trafford in the second leg on April 23and Keane predicted: "It will be a hell of a game. It's going tobe a tough match for them at Old Trafford.

"We'll make sure that if they are going to go through, wemake it a battle for them.

"Before the game we would have been disappointed with a 3-1defeat, but with that away goal we've got a bit of hope. That'sall you want, a bit of hope."

Keane, like Ferguson, blamed poor concentration for theconcession of the two first-half goals by Figo and Raul.

"Concentration is always important," Keane said. "Withplayers like Raul and Figo, they can punish you.

"I'm disappointed with their three goals. But we battled andshowed great character in the second half, we kept going and gotthe away goal.

"As poorly as we played in the first half, we still createdone or two half chances. But you look at the goals they scoredand I am disappointed with that.

"I thought they maybe could have been stopped. When you giveteams like Real Madrid a 2-0 head start, you are going to be upagainst it.

"Give credit to Real Madrid, lets not kid ourselves, theyare a top team. Some of the players they have are world-class.And they have proved that over the years."