Giggs is ready and willing to play his part in any revival.
Ryan Giggs has served notice to David Moyes that he’s ready to play a full part in rescuing Manchester United’s season.
The 40-year-old midfielder has started only six League games but was the man his under-fire manager turned to when his back was against the wall before last week’s crucial Champions League game against Olympiakos.
After the Welshman produced a Man-of-the-Match performance to keep his club in Europe, he now wants the chance to put a dent in Manchester City’s title ambitions.
There were stories circulating of a fall-out between Moyes and his veteran player-coach denied by both parties but from Giggs’ point of view, the only frustration was not being involved often enough.
“In the past I’ve played every couple of weeks, but before Olympiakos I hadn’t played for six or seven weeks,” he says.
“That’s probably longer than I would like. I’ve felt good on the training pitch and I know I can do 90 minutes, no problem.
“When you play in midfield, especially the team we’ve got, you can pick and choose your runs.”
Giggs has been playing Manchester derbies for more than two decades but Tuesday’s will be the first in which City have been going for the title and United have been out of the running.
In fact, that scenario hasn’t happened since 1977, when City came to Old Trafford in March one point behind leaders Liverpool with United well off the pace.
United won 3-1 and effectively deprived their neighbours of the crown. City finished a single point behind the Anfield side with United in sixth spot.
United’s lack of competitiveness in the Premier League has hurt its most decorated player.
“You’ve just got to take the criticism,” says Giggs. “We haven’t played consistently well enough. That’s obvious.
“We know the quality in the team. That’s the frustrating bit. I see it every day in training but we haven’t transferred it onto the pitch often enough.
“Hopefully the European result can kick-start our season. It’s obviously the sort of performance we’re going to need if we’re going to beat City.”
Giggs’ stance is backed up by Patrice Evra, who is calling for his team-mates to show the Olympiakos spirit against their local rivals and beyond.
“Maybe people will say I’m too old-school, but when you play with that spirit you can do big things,” says the French left-back.
“We’ve had a tough season and the big problem is why we don’t play with that spirit in every game.
“I said to all my team-mates before the match that we had to play for the people we love, for the family, not for the people who criticise us.
“We had to give back after losing to Liverpool the way we did. I don’t think we fought enough and that’s why I was really hurt inside. When I got home I was really sad.
“We don’t have to find excuses or blame anybody else. I think we have to blame ourselves.
“If you lose 3-0 against Liverpool you deserved to be booed. But I was in shock because the fans were still singing until the last second.
“I want the fans to be proud of us. It’s payback now. We just have to be proud to play for the shirt.
“When we play with the heart, it’s difficult to beat United.”
By John Barrett
Giggs is ready and
willing to play his
part in any revival
n Patrice Evra says the United players owe the fans a better showing.
n Old Trafford star Ryan Giggs wants more game time in a bid to turn around United’s fortunes.
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