Moyes: Giggs as sharp as ever at 40

 

The Scot also admitted when he arrived at Old Trafford he expected to find a fading force in the veteran Welshman, no longer capable of having an impact, as so many critics have suggested down the years.

Moyes accepts he could not have been more wrong.
And given Giggs' outstanding contribution to Wednesday's 5-0 hammering of Bayer Leverkusen, it is unlikely the United squad would want to be without the man who has now played an incredible 953 games for the Red Devils.
"When I came I expected to see someone who must be dropping off, must be fading," said Moyes.
"I thought it would be obvious and I heard a lot of pundits thinking that as well.
"I came with the idea that maybe he is not quite the same.
"But I can honestly say he has been fantastic.
"For Ryan to be playing so well at his age is terrific and a great example to young players about how you should dedicate yourself throughout your career.
"Also to players who get into their early to mid-30s and think things are coming to an end it shows if you really look after yourself and train well, you can go on for a lot longer."
One of Moyes' first decisions after replacing Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer was to appoint Giggs to his coaching team.
He does make a contribution behind the scenes. But once training starts, he is in the thick of it, not on the outside watching, exactly as it has to be.
"When you get older you have to train as hard as the young ones," said Moyes.
"He has been great for me. I have used him to settle into my job.
"He is involved in all the stuff we do regarding the team but once we have decided what we are doing, and who is doing what, he will go and train with the players, just as he has done for the past 20 years."
In his wide-ranging discussions with Ferguson before his own appointment was confirmed, it was suggested to Moyes that Giggs would come into his own a few months into the campaign, when the pitches became softer.
It was a point reinforced by the man himself on his first encounter with Moyes in the summer.
The reality turned into something completely different.
"I knew Ryan would be the dictator of it," said Moyes.
"He said he took a bit longer to get ready and didn't tend to start the season.
"But he played a lot of pre-season. I felt he was ready to start and we needed him. He has shown he was capable of that."