Ryan Giggs reminded the world of his ongoing excellence with a standout Champions League performance at Bayer Leverkusen
The only thing that will stop Ryan Giggs training on his 40th birthday on Friday is the thought of what his Manchester United team-mates have in store at Carrington. Otherwise it is just another day at work and another milestone in a career that surpassed convention and superlatives and extraordinary levels of achievement long ago. "I will be glad when it's over," Giggs said. The birthday, that is, not the football.
Tributes would have been bestowed on the remarkable Welshman regardless of his commanding performance in United's rout of Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday but it allowed David Moyes to pay the most rewarding of them all in the aftermath of the 5-0 win. The display was not impressive for a 39-year-old, the United manager pointed out, it was impressive full stop. The back-slapping that followed Giggs out of the BayArena was not some sycophantic response to an age-defying act but recognition of his influence on United's biggest away win in the European Cup for 56 years.
"During the game their centre-half was asking me how Ryan is still playing like that at his age," said Wayne Rooney. "He was fantastic. I've run out of things to say about him but it was great to see him with that composure on the ball. I don't know how he is still doing it. I certainly won't be playing at that age, that's for sure."
From bailing out defenders with the game goalless to threading Nani through for United's fifth goal in the 88th minute with a sublime first-time pass, Giggs dominated the midfield in Germany.
Leverkusen were not some disorganised, mediocre opponent. They just appeared that way once the 39-year-old, Rooney and Shinji Kagawa took over. Sami Hyypia has taken Leverkusen to second place in the Bundesliga courtesy of the club's best start to a league season and they were on an eight-match winning run at home in the Champions League before kick-off but the former Liverpool defender, stoic in defeat, had to concede: "We have been taught a football lesson."
For Giggs, the motivation on Wednesday was the same as when making his United debut against Everton in March 1991 – 22 years, 12 league titles, two Champions League triumphs and 953 club appearances ago. "I'm enjoying it, that's the main thing," said the midfielder and United's first-team coach. "You've got to work hard during the week, put in the performances in training and hopefully get picked. And when you are picked it is just like when you are younger really, you've got to take your chance.
"It helps when you have legs around you. You've got Phil Jones in midfield and the front four were brilliant against Leverkusen, a real handful. So that helps. So, yes, I'm enjoying it but I tend to enjoy it more in December and January when all the games come thick and fast and I can get into a rhythm."
Jones was not born when Giggs first appeared for United. Neither were Adnan Januzaj and Wilfried Zaha. But the midfielder took no added satisfaction from winning in Europe two days before his 40th. "It wasn't special for that reason," he said. "It was special because it was an important game. We knew we would go through if we won and we scored five goals away from home in Europe. I got a buzz because of that, you've got to. Winning 5-0 away against the team second in the Bundesliga, you've got to get a buzz. They've got a really good home record as well. I think only Bayern Munich have come here and won this year."
Giggs remains as ambitious as ever for silverware and, though United have a gap to close to catch the elite of Europe, he has not given up on a third Champions League winners' medal. Leverkusen were on the receiving end of United's best European away display for several years and the veteran at the heart of the performance believes another final appearance is achievable on that form.
"If we play like we did against Leverkusen we can," said Giggs on the prospect of United reaching Lisbon in May. "We've seen the speed and the quality we had up front. We were missing a lot of quality and experienced players in Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic and Michael Carrick. It was good for the lads who maybe haven't had their chance this season and they took it. Now it is up to them to stay in the team.
"We've got the experience and we've got some youngsters coming through like Adnan, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, who haven't played much in Europe. I thought Shinji added an extra dimension against Leverkusen. It was very difficult for the opposition to pick him up and I'm really pleased for him. If we put on performances like this, then who knows? We can go a long way."
There is no date set on how long Giggs can continue to contribute at the highest level. Moyes claimed in Germany that the midfielder is improving and Giggs' next appearance will make him only the sixth player to perform in the Premier League at 40 or over. That group consists of Brad Friedel, Mike Pollitt, Mark Schwarzer – all goalkeepers – Gordon Strachan and Teddy Sheringham.
As for the 40th birthday, Giggs reflects: "Obviously it is a milestone but I try not to think about it as such and I don't think about it until people like you remind me. I'm not coming into training on Friday anyway. I'm going to stay in bed just in case the lads have something planned." Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.
The only thing that will stop Ryan Giggs training on his 40th birthday on Friday is the thought of what his Manchester United team-mates have in store at Carrington. Otherwise it is just another day at work and another milestone in a career that surpassed convention and superlatives and extraordinary levels of achievement long ago. "I will be glad when it's over," Giggs said. The birthday, that is, not the football.
Tributes would have been bestowed on the remarkable Welshman regardless of his commanding performance in United's rout of Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday but it allowed David Moyes to pay the most rewarding of them all in the aftermath of the 5-0 win. The display was not impressive for a 39-year-old, the United manager pointed out, it was impressive full stop. The back-slapping that followed Giggs out of the BayArena was not some sycophantic response to an age-defying act but recognition of his influence on United's biggest away win in the European Cup for 56 years.
"During the game their centre-half was asking me how Ryan is still playing like that at his age," said Wayne Rooney. "He was fantastic. I've run out of things to say about him but it was great to see him with that composure on the ball. I don't know how he is still doing it. I certainly won't be playing at that age, that's for sure."
From bailing out defenders with the game goalless to threading Nani through for United's fifth goal in the 88th minute with a sublime first-time pass, Giggs dominated the midfield in Germany.
Leverkusen were not some disorganised, mediocre opponent. They just appeared that way once the 39-year-old, Rooney and Shinji Kagawa took over. Sami Hyypia has taken Leverkusen to second place in the Bundesliga courtesy of the club's best start to a league season and they were on an eight-match winning run at home in the Champions League before kick-off but the former Liverpool defender, stoic in defeat, had to concede: "We have been taught a football lesson."
For Giggs, the motivation on Wednesday was the same as when making his United debut against Everton in March 1991 – 22 years, 12 league titles, two Champions League triumphs and 953 club appearances ago. "I'm enjoying it, that's the main thing," said the midfielder and United's first-team coach. "You've got to work hard during the week, put in the performances in training and hopefully get picked. And when you are picked it is just like when you are younger really, you've got to take your chance.
"It helps when you have legs around you. You've got Phil Jones in midfield and the front four were brilliant against Leverkusen, a real handful. So that helps. So, yes, I'm enjoying it but I tend to enjoy it more in December and January when all the games come thick and fast and I can get into a rhythm."
Jones was not born when Giggs first appeared for United. Neither were Adnan Januzaj and Wilfried Zaha. But the midfielder took no added satisfaction from winning in Europe two days before his 40th. "It wasn't special for that reason," he said. "It was special because it was an important game. We knew we would go through if we won and we scored five goals away from home in Europe. I got a buzz because of that, you've got to. Winning 5-0 away against the team second in the Bundesliga, you've got to get a buzz. They've got a really good home record as well. I think only Bayern Munich have come here and won this year."
Giggs remains as ambitious as ever for silverware and, though United have a gap to close to catch the elite of Europe, he has not given up on a third Champions League winners' medal. Leverkusen were on the receiving end of United's best European away display for several years and the veteran at the heart of the performance believes another final appearance is achievable on that form.
"If we play like we did against Leverkusen we can," said Giggs on the prospect of United reaching Lisbon in May. "We've seen the speed and the quality we had up front. We were missing a lot of quality and experienced players in Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic and Michael Carrick. It was good for the lads who maybe haven't had their chance this season and they took it. Now it is up to them to stay in the team.
"We've got the experience and we've got some youngsters coming through like Adnan, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, who haven't played much in Europe. I thought Shinji added an extra dimension against Leverkusen. It was very difficult for the opposition to pick him up and I'm really pleased for him. If we put on performances like this, then who knows? We can go a long way."
There is no date set on how long Giggs can continue to contribute at the highest level. Moyes claimed in Germany that the midfielder is improving and Giggs' next appearance will make him only the sixth player to perform in the Premier League at 40 or over. That group consists of Brad Friedel, Mike Pollitt, Mark Schwarzer – all goalkeepers – Gordon Strachan and Teddy Sheringham.
As for the 40th birthday, Giggs reflects: "Obviously it is a milestone but I try not to think about it as such and I don't think about it until people like you remind me. I'm not coming into training on Friday anyway. I'm going to stay in bed just in case the lads have something planned." Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.