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Defence is best form of attack, says Giggs
Last updated at 19:35pm on 6th August 2007
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Manchester United will begin their Premier League title defence with an outrageous array of attacking options - but Ryan Giggs suggests it will be the strength of the Red Devils defence that will determine whether they retain their crown.
With Carlos Tevez due to complete his move to Old Trafford either on Tuesday or Wednesday, Sir Alex Ferguson is spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding who to play up front.
Even if Tevez is not deemed fit enough to start against Reading next Sunday, Ferguson still has Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani at his disposal, not forgetting Giggs himself, while Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are not that far away from comebacks after recent injury.
With Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Anderson capable of chipping in as well, goalscoring would not appear to be much of a problem for the champions.
However, as a veteran of all nine United title wins in the Premier League era, Giggs understands what happens at the back will be just as crucial as the output of the Old Trafford outfit's scoring machine.
"We do have plenty of attacking flair," said the Welshman. "We have at least four or five players who can change a game and take people on. That is what Manchester United is all about.
"But you cannot lose sight of the fact defences win you championships and that is what happened last year.
"The defenders provide the platform for attacking players to produce the skills they have. We must defend well and be solid as a team."
There was a time when Giggs was the undoubted star in United's array of flair players.
In the aftermath of his sixth Community Shield triumph, the 33-year-old is happy enough to admit the situation no longer exists.
Indeed, Giggs is now operating in the shadow of Ronaldo and Rooney, whose performances at Wembley on Sunday suggested the young duo are capable of at least matching last season's phenomenal exploits.
Not that Giggs intends spending too long in the back seat.
His opening goal on Sunday was his first at Wembley since his days as an England schoolboy and while Ferguson is likely to limit his appearances to an extent where he is not expected to reach Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record of 759 - Giggs is now 42 adrift - until the 2008-09 campaign, the Welshman still has a big part to play.
"I hope I have something to offer," he said. "We have a good mixture between youth and experience.
"There is plenty of potential here but we also have the likes of myself, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar who have been there and done it.
"We have improved and strengthened, which was probably necessary because the injuries we suffered last season left us a bit bare. Hopefully that won't happen again."
Giggs accepts the standard in the Premier League is rising year by year.
Chelsea are bound to mount a stern title challenge, with Liverpool expected to be much closer as well after Rafael Benitez's summer spending spree. Even Arsenal, despite having lost Thierry Henry, have been impressive in pre-season.
Yet Giggs is confident United can retain their trophy, especially now Tevez is about to be unleashed.
"I am really excited about Carlos joining," he said. "He trained with us on Friday and fitted in straightaway.
"We saw last year what a quality player he is. He can score goals and create them and will definitely give us an extra dimension."
Tevez will either make his debut at Dunfermline or Glentoran on Wednesday, with Ferguson then checking the Argentina star to see if he is fit enough to face Reading on Sunday.
The United boss will not want to take any chances on Tevez, not least because Ferguson is acutely aware of the need to make a flying start to the season; as they did 12 months ago with four successive wins.
"The quality in the Premier League is going up all the time," he said. "There are not many games you can even afford to draw now, so it is crucial we get off to a good start. "The history of the last four or five years suggests if a side got off to a good start and then stayed consistent throughout the rest of the season, it has been very difficult to catch them."
Last updated at 19:35pm on 6th August 2007
Comments Manchester United will begin their Premier League title defence with an outrageous array of attacking options - but Ryan Giggs suggests it will be the strength of the Red Devils defence that will determine whether they retain their crown.
With Carlos Tevez due to complete his move to Old Trafford either on Tuesday or Wednesday, Sir Alex Ferguson is spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding who to play up front.
Even if Tevez is not deemed fit enough to start against Reading next Sunday, Ferguson still has Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani at his disposal, not forgetting Giggs himself, while Louis Saha and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer are not that far away from comebacks after recent injury.
With Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick and Anderson capable of chipping in as well, goalscoring would not appear to be much of a problem for the champions.
However, as a veteran of all nine United title wins in the Premier League era, Giggs understands what happens at the back will be just as crucial as the output of the Old Trafford outfit's scoring machine.
"We do have plenty of attacking flair," said the Welshman. "We have at least four or five players who can change a game and take people on. That is what Manchester United is all about.
"But you cannot lose sight of the fact defences win you championships and that is what happened last year.
"The defenders provide the platform for attacking players to produce the skills they have. We must defend well and be solid as a team."
There was a time when Giggs was the undoubted star in United's array of flair players.
In the aftermath of his sixth Community Shield triumph, the 33-year-old is happy enough to admit the situation no longer exists.
Indeed, Giggs is now operating in the shadow of Ronaldo and Rooney, whose performances at Wembley on Sunday suggested the young duo are capable of at least matching last season's phenomenal exploits.
Not that Giggs intends spending too long in the back seat.
His opening goal on Sunday was his first at Wembley since his days as an England schoolboy and while Ferguson is likely to limit his appearances to an extent where he is not expected to reach Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time appearance record of 759 - Giggs is now 42 adrift - until the 2008-09 campaign, the Welshman still has a big part to play.
"I hope I have something to offer," he said. "We have a good mixture between youth and experience.
"There is plenty of potential here but we also have the likes of myself, Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Edwin van der Sar who have been there and done it.
"We have improved and strengthened, which was probably necessary because the injuries we suffered last season left us a bit bare. Hopefully that won't happen again."
Giggs accepts the standard in the Premier League is rising year by year.
Chelsea are bound to mount a stern title challenge, with Liverpool expected to be much closer as well after Rafael Benitez's summer spending spree. Even Arsenal, despite having lost Thierry Henry, have been impressive in pre-season.
Yet Giggs is confident United can retain their trophy, especially now Tevez is about to be unleashed.
"I am really excited about Carlos joining," he said. "He trained with us on Friday and fitted in straightaway.
"We saw last year what a quality player he is. He can score goals and create them and will definitely give us an extra dimension."
Tevez will either make his debut at Dunfermline or Glentoran on Wednesday, with Ferguson then checking the Argentina star to see if he is fit enough to face Reading on Sunday.
The United boss will not want to take any chances on Tevez, not least because Ferguson is acutely aware of the need to make a flying start to the season; as they did 12 months ago with four successive wins.
"The quality in the Premier League is going up all the time," he said. "There are not many games you can even afford to draw now, so it is crucial we get off to a good start. "The history of the last four or five years suggests if a side got off to a good start and then stayed consistent throughout the rest of the season, it has been very difficult to catch them."