Giggs keen to play a part in euro tie
Ryan Giggs is desperate to be involved in Manchester United’s Champions League qualifier with Debrecen this week.
The Wales skipper has been a frustrated spectator so far this term after being laid low with a chest infection right at the end of United’s pre-season campaign.
Ten days in bed poorly was the last thing Giggs needed as he faced up to the twin threat to his first-team place from Cristiano Ronaldo and South Korean new boy Park Ji-Sung.
However, with a place in the group stages of Europe’s top club competition virtually wrapped up courtesy of a 3-0 first-leg victory at Old Trafford a fortnight ago, Sir Alex Ferguson has already confirmed he will make changes for the return in Budapest on Wednesday, with Giggs among those hoping to be involved.
“Hopefully I will be involved in some capacity,” the 31-year-old told MUTV.
“I haven’t had the best of times because after doing all the pre-season work, and playing in four or five games, I then spent 10 days in bed ill.
“Thankfully, I have started training again now, but I need to start playing games and getting involved again.”
Giggs’ need to impress is even more acute given the fine start Park has made to his Red Devils career.
Written off in many quarters as nothing more than a marketing ploy, the midfielder has wasted little time in showing the form which helped his country reach the World Cup semi-finals in 2002 and then guide former club PSV Eindhoven to the last four of the Champions League last season.
Park even outshone Wayne Rooney in Saturday’s victory over Aston Villa, going within inches of bagging his first United goal when Thomas Sorensen tipped his blistering drive onto the crossbar.
And from what Giggs has seen at close quarters, Park is a potential star of the future.
“He has settled in really well,” said Giggs, the most decorated player in United’s history, who signed a two-year contract extension just prior to his club’s FA Cup final defeat to Arsenal in May.
“He has shown great enthusiasm, has quick feet and is comfortable off either foot.
“Defenders do not like players running behind them. Park has shown in the two Premiership games so far he is quite capable of doing that and finding the space.
“He is also aware of his defensive responsibilities too, so I am sure he will do well for us and score a few goals.”
Ironically, it was not until Ronaldo had replaced Park that United got their winner at the weekend, the Portuguese winger providing the assist as Ruun Nistelrooy bundled home his third goal of the campaign.
Although the increased competition puts his own place at risk, Giggs is experienced enough to know an intense fight for first-team spots will benefit the Red Devils in the long run.
It took United five games last season to amass the six points they already have to their name this time around and Giggs is confident the club can provide a more concerted assault on the Premiership crown than they have in the past two largely barren years.
“The position now is a total contrast from this time last season,” he said.
“Back then, we were all over the place with injuries and people coming back from the Olympics.We have looked a lot stronger in pre-season and that has shown in the games so far.
“We wanted to make a good start and that is exactly what we have done. We have scored goals and kept clean sheets and that breeds confidence.
“It is only healthy for the club as a whole that we have so many players fighting for places.If you are not doing your job, someone else can come in and do it instead.
“It is not about 12 or 13 players anymore, it is about 18 or 20. There are lots of games to play so we are going to need everyone fit and sharp.”
