Thiago Alcantara and Kevin Strootman can be Manchester United’s next Scholes and Keane

Next to the box of wonderment that made up Scholes’s game was the relentless drive and world-class all-round midfield game of Roy Keane. Keane was never a player who would be described as the best at any one thing; but what made him special was that he was very good at everything. His ferocious desire to win was all-consuming, and he dragged a team of young players to the Premier League title and then the Champions League. Keane often beat his midfield opponent before the game had even started. His manic presence and constant harassment of the opponent made him as difficult to play against as the most gifted of technicians.

Keane strode or smashed his way through midfield after midfield and dragged his team with him. His pressing and tackling was without equal, his passing was tidy, and he managed to score 33 goals from midfield. The way Keane dominated his opponents with sheer force is reminiscent of PSV’s Kevin Strootman.

At just 23, Strootman is the captain of PSV and is expected to take over from Robin van Persie as the Holland captain in due course. He is a very strong leader and has an irrepressible influence on his team mates. This year, he dragged a flimsy, but talented and young, PSV side to second place in the Eredivisie. He led from the front, and led by example. He showed them how to win, much like Keane in the mid-90s.

Strootman has the same qualities that made Keane so dangerous in his prime

Strootman leads like Keane, and also plays like him. He is very tough, an excellent presser and tackler, and underrated when in possession. He keeps things simple and uses his physique, fitness and desire to win. He even gets more goals than Keane, with a specialty in arriving late to finish sweeping moves.

If Manchester United were to sign Thiago Alcantara and Kevin Strootman, they would potentially get themselves the successors to Paul Scholes and Roy Keane that they need to win the Champions League once more.