Giggs refreshed after calling time on Wales

Apr 23 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

RYAN GIGGS has revealed how quitting as Wales captain has left him ready, willing and able to lead Manchester United’s Uefa Champions League charge in Barcelona.

Giggs says his shock decision to retire from international football has made him fitter and fresher for club duty as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men prepare for the business end of the season.

Tonight’s mouth-watering Euro semi-final showdown with Barcelona is followed by a potential Premiership title decider against Chelsea at the weekend.

For the first time in his career, Giggs is not guaranteed his place in Ferguson’s starting XI and will be sweating on his place in the Nou Camp line-up this evening, as well as Stamford Bridge on Saturday. But Giggs believes that if he hadn’t stood down from John Toshack’s team in June, he would have had even less chance of being picked for the biggest two games yet of United’s season.

This time last year the matches came thick and fast and Giggs says he was mentally and physically exhausted.

Twelve months on, he says his 34-year-old body is in better shape at this stage of a season than at any point in recent times.

“Choosing to retire from international football was probably the hardest decision I have made in my career ... but what has happened since proves it was definitely the right one,” said Giggs.

“I’m really happy with my fitness levels at this stage of the season. I made the decision to retire from international football because I hoped it would make me fresher ... and that’s exactly what has happened.

“I have had no injuries this season, have played in a lot of games and I think my form has been good.

“That was my aim at the start of the season so I am happy I took the decision to retire with Wales.

“This year is completely different to how I was 12 months ago. Back then I was shattered, mentally and physically.

“This time it is the total reverse and I am noting the rewards of quitting international football. If anything, I’m struggling to get enough games in these days!

“When I used to go away with Wales, the pressures and the travelling would take their toll.

“Before Christmas, when Wales had games, I went away during the two international breaks. I came back really refreshed, so it has clearly worked.

“Playing for Wales meant everything to me and I could see, with the crop of talented youngsters that were coming through, that things were soon going to turn for the better again.

“I was very emotional at the end of my final match against the Czech Republic. But I made the decision to stand aside for the right reasons – for myself personally and for the sake of the team.

“The team have produced some excellent results in my absence and they are developing well ahead of the World Cup campaign.”

Giggs goes into tonight’s Barcelona showdown under something of a cloud, with some United fans having turned on him for recent performances.

He was even replaced at half-time during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Blackburn, as Ferguson plumped for the younger legs of Nani with United trying to claw back a 1-0 deficit.

Giggs, as always, is diplomatic about the flak from the fans, saying simply: “Getting criticism is part of being a Manchester United player. It doesn’t worry me.

“I don’t know why I’m singled out. Maybe it’s because I’ve been around so many years.

“But the one person I have to impress is the manager – and while he is picking me, I know I am good enough.

“I will review my future at the end of my current contract, which has a year to run. Then I will see if I am still having an impact on big games.”

They don’t come too much bigger than tonight, as Giggs returns to the scene of his greatest football triumph.

It was in Barcelona on a balmy May evening nine years ago that Giggs was part of the United team who snatched the Champions League trophy away from the hands of Bayern Munich skipper Lothar Matthaus with two injury-time goals.

“Great memories, and hopefully we can create more magic this evening,” said Giggs.

“We were on the pitch for ages after that 1999 game, celebrating with the fans. Even today it is hard to explain the emotions.

“There was a real sense of relief and pride in what we had achieved.”

But he cautioned: “I also remember only too well a less pleasant Nou Camp experience. I was only a youngster and we were battered 4-0 by Barcelona out there.

“They had two strikers, Romario and Stoichkov, who were unstoppable that night. They are not exactly short of talent this time, either, with Eto’o, Henry and Messi playing.

“Barcelona are a tough team to beat on their own patch and while I’m really looking forward to going back to the Nou Camp, a great place to play football, with a huge pitch, no-one needs to tell us how difficult the task will be.

“But this is the sort of match every player wants to be involved in and we’re confident we’ve got the ability to go through.

“When you get to the semis, you know you’re only one step away from the final and you want to make sure you get there.

“There are four teams left in the competition, each top sides who are capable of winning the trophy. We hope it’s us.”

Giggs refuses to accept the two-leg Barcelona showdown will be his last big European occasion, with the Welsh wizard having already stacked up a record-breaking 100-plus Champions League appearances.

He wants to play in the final in Moscow and have another crack at the big one next season.

But Giggs did admit: “When you are young, you always think you’ll get another chance. At 34, you know there are not many chances left.

“I’ve been enjoying my football more since I turned 30, probably because I know I’m close to the end.

“You do think ‘This could be my last trophy’ or ‘This could be the last big game I play in’.

“But this is a team with so much going for it, a really good mix of youth and experience, with the likes of myself, players well into their 20s and then youngsters like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Anderson and Nani.

“There is a real energy and enthusiasm through the team and we’re confident of reaching the final. Like 1999, this is a strong team ... but that side went out and did it in the Champions League.

“That’s what we need to do in 2008.”

Of his own future, Giggs continued: “Retiring completely from football will be when I stop enjoying it and not performing at the level I should be doing. That situation has not yet arisen.

“There is no particular season I’ve got in mind about when to go. No, I’ve got another year after this on my contract and it will depend on how my body holds up.

“Clearly there is a fight for places at United, but that is how you want it. If somebody is playing better than you in your position, that is the challenge you face.

“As you get older, you realise that you won’t play in every game, so you do a bit more training and make sure you’re ready when the manager does pick you.

“I made the decision to retire from international football for sound reasons. When the day does eventually come for me to stand aside completely, I do think I will still be involved in the game in some way.

“I have been studying for my coaching badges because it is something the manager encourages in us, believing it will make us better players,

“As I say, though, that’s for the future. I just want to focus upon playing for the time being. I’m certainly fresh enough to do so.”