- The midfielder expressed his frustration to his co-hosts of the podcast nineteen years later
- Former Man United manager Solskjaer revealed he is thinking about the miss in the same way
- Do real fans leave games early? Listen to the It all starts podcast
Roy Keane has admitted he is still tortured by former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s high-stakes performance against Bayer Leverkusen.
The ex-Manchester United manager proved the difference in the club’s Treble-cementing Champions League final in 1999 with his injury-time winner.
But just three years later, Solskjaer faltered as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side attempted to win another European title.
During the second leg of their semi-final in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen, the striker had a golden opportunity to put Man United ahead before sending the ball over the crossbar to secure the Bundesliga’s place in the final against Real Madrid.
And 19 years later, Keane – who played alongside Solskjaer for nine years between 1996 and 2005 – remains stuck with the idea of what could have been.
Roy Keane (right) has revealed he is still frustrated by missing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sliding doors
In the final minutes against Bayer Leverkusen, Solskjaer shot this chance over the bar
A 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen meant the Bundesliga side advanced on away goals against Real Madrid
Solskjaer trudges off the pitch after his miss cost United a place in the Champions League final
Keane revealed he is still haunted by the turn of events – and regularly reminds his former Man United team-mate
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“I know you have to move on, but Bayer Leverkusen – I still see Ole’s (Gunnar Solskjaer) chance in that game,” Keane told his co-hosts. the Stick to football podcast, brought to you by Sky bet.
‘I was behind him, you ask a player you definitely want to hit the goal with – and Ole’s (hits) over the bar.
“I bring it up when I see him now, I still mention the opportunity he missed!” Keane added.
‘Forget how brilliant he was – I said ‘f*****g, hit the target!’
Bayer Leverkusen would later lose the final in Glasgow to the Spanish colossus, who won their ninth European Cup at Hampden Park.
Keane’s frustration at the miscue has long been shared by near-goalscorer Solskjaer, who called that moment in 2021 the ‘one thing’ he would change about his Man United career.
“I would probably do the same thing again,” Solskjaer said on his club’s website. ‘Except for a goal against Bayer Leverkusen in 2002!
‘That chance, about ten minutes before full-time, that’s the moment in my career that I’ve thought about the most, that miss.’
The two players played for Sir Alex Ferguson’s team for nine years between 1996 and 2005
The forward confirmed Keane’s admission that the midfield will bring it up when he sees his old teammate.
‘He reminds me of that chance, but I just reply that for me it’s a good chance, but for him there was absolutely no chance he would have scored this or anything else,” Solskjaer added.
“But that’s what bothers me, that chance.”
Roy Keane spoke on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky bet