In a vocation of fairy stories it was the tale of a certain Ryan Giggs last night. Fergie deemed it fit that the 39-year old should reach a career milestone of his 1000th game against Mourinho, Ronaldo and Real Madrid, in what was billed as the ‘perfect match’ and the ‘biggest game in club football’.
Then Sir Ferguson Alex made it fact and also the team sheets revealed the specific Welshman within the Manchester United live XI. Because the information reverberated about Old Trafford which Rooney was dropped maybe “the writing is on to the walls for Rooney,” Roy Keane expressed his opinion on the situation and this was frowned upon by most Reds.
Then arrived the bombshell. Because the challenge unfolded the job for Ryan became clearer; Regardless of having legs twelve years older than Rooney, he was judged better kitted out to become the man to help Rafael foil the threat of Cristiano Ronaldo down the right hand side, a job he did superbly.
This was the job handed to Rooney 3 weeks back at the Bernabu inside the first leg. How Ferguson’s call impacts on the forward’s long term prospects at the club will intrigue over the approaching weeks, but thats another story. What Giggs offered in Rooney’s stead in the first half was more than adequate to convince this was the right call from the chief.
Ryan supplied protective diligence mixed with fighting threat which created a situation for him becoming United’s finest player prior to the role reversal after Nani’s red-colored card, meaning our backs were firmly to the wall for the last half an hour or so.
Midway through the opening half, there had been a vintage Giggs on show as he took Fábio Coentrão to school, Real’s young left-back became the most up-to-date in a long line of players who’ve been mugged by the blind of a Giggs dummy, step-over and hip-swivel that were all included in just a second of Welsh wizardry down the right.
As a burst of one of the home congregation’s favourite songs gleefully advised Coentro that “Giggs will tear you apart, again”, one of many songs that featured at one of the best atmospheres Old Trafford has ever seen.
An additional highlight included a mix which was flicked with the exterior of the Giggs’s renowned left foot which dropped wonderfully for Robin truck Persie to volley an attempt at Diego Lopez’s goal that needed a final ditch Sergio Ramos’s tackle to keep it out. Ryan kept Ronaldo out of the game for the most part, until the sending off at least anyway. One of the two best players in the world was kept quiet by the great veteran, what a man.
His opening action was to clash with the Portuguese and help wring possession from him. But there followed tackles on Fábio Coentrão and alo Mesut Ozil prior to that. He and Da Silva worked well and executed the Ferguson plan perfectly; double teaming Ronaldo to squish him off the ball every time he had it in his possession.
In a little hint of his choice, Ferguson wrote before: “Nothing but the best for the best, so Ryan will be in the squad tonight and all being well will perform a part in what is bound to be a superb match as he celebrates his 1,000th appearance.
Ryan has been unimaginable over time and he’s still performing a part, so much so we have managed to give him another one year contract. I should add my call to incorporate him isn’t completely because I have gone soft: it is due to the fact there is little to beat capability and experience when talking about the huge occasions, and Ryan has masses of both these qualities.”
His beginning berth once again confirmed the player’s standing as Ferguson’s man for the major nights. Giggs started the 2009 and 2011 Champions League finals in the central-midfield role which has come as naturally to him as the wing play that made his name.
Five years have flown by since Ryan eclipsed and surpassed Bobby Charlton’s record of 758 appearances for Manchester United within the 2008 Champions League final in the game against Chelsea. To this game he added the penalty inside the shootout that claimed the prize when Edwin Van Der Sar saved Nicolas Anelka’s spot-kick to set Ryan and United in dreamland in Moscow.
Ryan Giggs, having been crucial in keeping Ronaldo quiet, then witnessed his team give up the lead through a quickfire double from Real, Luka Modric scored a screamer before Ronaldo tapped home after Gonzalo Higuain drilled a cross across the danger area.
Just before these goals Nani saw red due to a high tackle on ex-Liverpool full-back Alvaro Arbeloa, a move which prompted Ferguson to stir the Manchester United supporters to boost the sound levels in an attempt to will the team home.
The recalibration of the Giggs game from fresh zephyr to midfield general has been one of modern football’s second best acts, click here for tickets to all matches to see him in action. Approaching forty, he’s the soldier in the United ranks who can still offer so much.
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