Evergreen Giggs rolls back the years to rescue United
MANCHESTER UTD (2) vs WOLFSBURG (1)
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson hailed golden oldie Ryan Giggs after the Welshman saved his side from an embarrassing Champions League defeat at Old Trafford.
Giggs, 35, cancelled out Edin Dzeko’s shock opener with his 150th goal in United colours before then setting up Michael Carrick for a deserved winner.
“He’s unbelievable,” Ferguson said. “With all the superlatives and praise he’s had over the years, I don’t know how you can add to it. He’s a marvellous player.”
Ferguson added: “I thought it was a very good performance. What they are good at is they never give in. No matter what the score is, they keep playing and they get their reward. Our performance level was very good.”
Typically, however, the modest Giggs played down his side in leading the United assault, admitting his 22-yard deflected strike came with an element of good fortune. “It was a poor free-kick to be fair but we got that little bit of luck,” he added. “The goal doesn’t represent anything, obviously I’m proud to do it but it was more important that we got back in the game so soon after they scored.”
United enjoyed their lion’s share of possession without really hurting their German opponents and were made to pay ten minutes into the second half when Makoto Hasebe crossed for Dzeko to head home past keeper Tomas Kuszczak.
Within three minutes, however, United levelled when Anunciado Josue hauled down Anderson just outside the area and Giggs’ strike found the corner after taking a wicked deflection off Christian Gentner.
The Germans made United work hard throughout but the hosts secured a deserved win 12 minutes from time when Giggs laid off for Carrick to side-foot home the winner from the edge of the area.
The belated winner brought a happy ending to an otherwise frustrating night for Ferguson, who handed a rare start to striker Michael Owen, only to then lose him to a groin strain midway through the first half.
“Groins are difficult to say,” Ferguson went on. “He could be out for maybe two to three weeks. But his fitness level is good so it shouldn’t be too long.”