19-05-2025
Giggsy spurs United on
HE'S won virtually every single club and individual honour in the game. He is the most decorated footballer in the history of the English game and one of the most decorated of all time. StarSport caught up with footballing legend Ryan Giggs who was in Kuala Lumpur to promote the Manchester United vs Asean All-Stars match on May 28.
Q: You've been to Malaysia quite a few times now. What's your favourite food?
A: The first trip was before 2000, I think it was 1995. I've had quite a bit of the local food in Malaysia, but I have to say, I have a soft spot for satay. It's not too spicy. In fact, on the flight over, I had some satay. (Giggs arrived in Kuala Lumpur after a 36-hour flight and transit).
The team have lost 18 league matches this season, a run of form not seen since the 1970s. What do you attribute this malaise to?
I think it's an accumulation over time, over the last eight or nine years with recruitment and obviously the change of managers as well. You have a manager who comes in and likes a player and then you have a different manager coming in who doesn't, and these players from different regimes cost a lot of money. And then you have a team of players that can't play the manager's system and just aren't used to winning. They do not have that feeling of consistency and that winning feeling. So, yes, it's a difficult time. I've no doubt we will be back. It's just a matter of time.
You were an integral part of the Class of 92, which had top figures like Bryan Robson, Paul Ince, Steve Bruce. Do the youngsters, such as Chido Obi, Harry Amass have big characters to guide them?
It's hard to know without actually being on the training ground or around the team. I think you've good, good, pros in the team, but like you just mentioned when I came into the team, there were Bryan, Steve, Mark (Hughes), Brian (McClair), Peter (Schmieichel) and Paul. Yeah, just so many characters but winners as well. They wanted to win the small-sided games, they wanted to win in training every day, and I came into that environment. I had to elevate my game, my performances, my consistency to their level, otherwise I would have fallen away, and so it's very difficult to compare eras but I was lucky that I came into that kind of environment. But now it's a different era and mentality, it's a different world really, but somehow you need to get that togetherness, because I agree, you need the young players coming through and aspire to be like the older players.
From the Busby Babes in the 1950s to your era with Fergie's Fledglings, United had paraded youngsters. Do you see that continuing?
I mean, I do, but it's difficult because they're coming to an environment where instantly, the pressure is on and every game for Man United is big anyway. It seems at the moment there's a lot of criticism, and it's not easy for a young player to come into that environment. And when you're not winning, your confidence goes, you maybe do not do things that you did in the youth team or the reserves, so it is difficult but like I said, we'll come back, but at the moment it is difficult for a young player to come into the team because of the lack of consistency.
Your last competitive match was 11 years ago. You must miss it, you're still relatively young and still as good looking.
(laughs) Yeah, you know what I obviously played until I was 40 and I was in the team at 17. At that time (in 2014), I had done everything, and I was ready for the next stage of my career, but I think you do miss it. You miss the big games, the Champions League, and also training. Football's the best job in the world going, playing with some of your friends and yes, so I miss that.
How do you keep yourself fit? You still look fit.
Difficult, I think the main thing is just watching your diet. When you play, you've always got an excuse to maybe not eat the wrong food or have too many beers or wine, but now you don't have that excuse anymore, so you know, you can indulge, you can have a few drinks. But it's just mainly concentrate on what you eat, really, and I've always been pretty disciplined with that. And also, yeah, I like to play paddle, I like to play five-a-sides still, I'm lucky I don't have injuries, I don't have bad knees, no aching joints, so I'm still able to exercise at a pretty high level.
Interview Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.—AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star.
You turned to yoga at your peak in 90s, 2000s to maintain your flexibility. Do you still do it?
No, that was the hardest thing that I did, and I did it purely because it was good for me and my career. My injuries got less. My availability for games and training became more, so yoga was good for me, physically, spiritually and mentally. But it was hard, and I am not flexible. I don't like it, and now I'd rather play golf or paddle or five-a-side, rather than do yoga.
Your last managerial job was in 2022 (in Wales) and at Salford City. Is there a similar role for you in near future?
Yeah, I hope so. I mean, I loved my time with Wales and working as Louis Van Gaal's assistant with United (in 2014) and I'm still relatively young as a coach, so yeah, I still have aspirations to be a manager. I feel I've got a lot to offer.
I've got the UEFA Class A coaching licence. I did that while I was still playing. I got my pro licence where you can coach or manage anywhere. While I was still playing, I was preparing myself for the next step. So yeah I'm ready to go.
As a United fan, my favourite goal of yours was the one you scored in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal. What's your favourite?
Yeah, I enjoyed that goal so much. It was a good goal but also the occasion itself. I've scored many goals where I dribbled but probably none that was more important than that one against Arsenal. The winning goal makes a difference and it was a good goal as well.
Of the many goals and trophies in your career, which was the best? Could it be the 1999 treble?
I think growing up as a United fan and not winning the league for so long, that first one was extra special (referring to United's first league title after 26 years in the 1992-93 season) and it gave us the confidence to build from that. Especially the year before when we lost to Leeds, so narrowly, I was so disappointed, and I couldn't wait to get back in pre-season the next year. And so, when we eventually won the league playing Blackburn at home, the whole stadium was buzzing with your friends and family there, that was a real special trophy.
Fast forward to the MU of the present. They will play Europa League final on May 22 (tomorrow) against Tottenham Hotspurs. Your thoughts?
Class act: Giggs in full flow during his prime.
It's a strange one because we've been so poor in the league but so good in Europe. In fact, we're the only unbeaten team in any European club competition this season. I don't know if it's Ruben's tactics (manager Ruben Amorim) or if it's the players or an escape from the domestic game troubles they've been having because they just seem to be embracing it and enjoying it. Of course you need a bit of luck like the late drama we had against Lyon, but yeah, the team look really good in Europe. It'll be a tough game because Tottenham have had better results against us the last few years but I always fancy us against Spurs.
Is it true or is it one of those urban legends that Sir Alex (manager) comes into the dressing room before every Spurs game and goes, 'Lads, its only Tottenham.'
Hahaha. It was said a few times. Roy Keane (captain) said it, Sir Alex said it. I think historically, when we went to White Hart Lane, they'd always had, (Glenn) Hoddle, (Paul) Gascoigne, (David) Ginola, these sort of flair players, but they didn't have a Roy Keane or a bit of steel so historically, we always enjoyed playing them. They enjoyed it too but they lacked the steel that we had. I always enjoyed playing against Tottenham because it was a good game and we usually won.
You've played many friendlies, against Malaysia too, how did you view a match like this during pre-season?
Yeah, I think it's the overall experience really of where you're going rather than the game, because it's very difficult with the humidity and the heat to train properly and the game obviously is going to be hot and it's the end of the season. I think it's more of the experience of coming to another country, seeing the fan base and interacting with the fans. And just trying to enjoy yourself really, trying to get out and see Kuala Lumpur if you can.
