Keane: Terry deserves to be first to lift the trophy

Roy Keane (pictured) did not have sympathy for Terry missing the final (Getty Images)

When Manchester United lifted the Champions League trophy in 1999 their suspended captain, Roy Keane, was nowhere to be seen.

If Chelsea win tonight, John Terry is expected to be prominently involved despite his ban being for a daft red card which could have cost his club a place in the final. Keane's omission came after a semi-final in which he shrugged off the booking which caused his suspension to drive United to the final.

The difference is stark but while Keane did not have sympathy for Terry missing the final, he said the Chelsea skipper "deserves" the chance to lift the trophy. "I think if John Terry gets an opportunity to lift it then he should do," said Keane.

"He's captain of the club and deserves it. It's only right that if they win Terry gets up straight away and lifts it for the first time. Me and Scholesy [Paul Scholes, who was also suspended] lifted it a good half-an-hour after [the trophy presentation]. The manager and other players said 'come out', and it was nice."

Keane said he feels for those players banned for totting up too many yellow cards. "They were so desperate to get their team to the final that they did what they should do and sacrificed themselves," he added.

"There have been stories about players on yellow cards in semi-finals [deliberately] missing the second leg in the past. I know the boy at Bayern Munich, Stefan Effenberg, made sure he missed the second leg [so he could play in the final]. Terry was a different matter. I wouldn't say I have sympathy, but for all players, when you miss a big game, you are disappointed."