Daily Mirror, Ryan Giggs Interview: "We'll Top The Kop"

Rob of the Rovers

Sunday Mirror wrote:

Ryan Giggs may already stand alone as the most successful player English football has ever seen, but the Manchester United player wants to claim one more piece of history.

Born in Wales but raised in the United heartland of Salford, Giggs understands better than anyone in the Old Trafford dressing room what it would mean to the United fans to win a record 19th title and so edge ahead of bitter rivals Liverpool.

Yet this season's race for the Premier League means much more to the 35-year-old than the battle of bragging rights between the Stretford End and the Kop. For Giggs, United becoming the first club to be crowned champions for the forth season in succession would be a meansure of greatness that would stand the test of time.

"All our fans will be talking abour the prospect of becoming the club that has won the league championship the most times and that's understandable with the rivalry we've got with Liverpool," said Giggs who has 11 title medals housed in his collection in the United museum, "But if you ask the players the big aim this season is to win the title four times in succession. That's the bit of history we want most of all. Winning three successive titles is special because it is so rare. But the great thing about every United team I've played in is that the players always want more."

"We've done the hat-trick of titles twice now and we want to become the first team to make it four-in-a-row. That would be a special piece of history for us. We know how hard is is to win the thing once or even defend it, so to to set this record would be a great achievement for the team."

Giggs added: "Beating Liverpool is important to our fans - just as I know the Liverpool supporters will be desperate for their team to win it for the same reason. Fifteen years ago we were a long way behind them and their fans loved reminding us about that. When we won the first Premier League in 1993, equalling their record didn't even come into it because United had gone so long without being champions. I remember playing in the game at Anfield where there was a banner saying 'come back when you've won it 18'. We didn't even dream we do it so quickly, and to get level with them last season was a big thing for our supporters to enjoy."

Giggs has also won the Champions League twice, the FA Cup four times and has enjoyed a hat-trick of league cup truimphs. There have been successes too in the World Club Cup, Intercontinental Cup and European Super Cup, as well as seven Community Shields.

It is an incredible haul - a Giggs trusts Sir Alex Ferguson to deliever another winning team this season, despite the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez this summer. Giggs said: "Cristiano and Carlos will be missed but our manager always comes up with answers of how important players will be replaced. I've seen so many great players leave the club before - and so have lads like Paul Scholes and Gary Neville."

"Brian Robson left; when Eric Cantona left everyone said that was the beginning of the end and two years later we won the Champions League. There were similar claums when players like Sparky (Mark) Hughes, Paul Ince and Andrei Kanchelskis left in 1995 and we went on to win the double. The thing about United is we are a club that never stands still. We always move. It's what makes the manager so special. Sir Alex is evolving the team."

Continuing he said, "I am 35 now, coming up to 36, and I am just trying to enjoy the football as much as I can. Every game I play for United is a bonus. It should be a great season - it will be interesting to see what Manchester City can do. They've spent a lot of money bringing in some quality players and if they start the season right I expect them to be right up there. They have the finances to hir rhe transfer market again in January so you have to put them in the shake-up."

Manchester United:

Last season in the Premier League:

Top Scorer: Ronaldo (18)
Most Assists: Berbatov (9)
Most Fouls: Vidic (39)
Most Fouled: Ronaldo (79)
Most Bookings: Rooney (7)
Most Red Cards: Vidic (2)
Most Appearances: Vidic: 32

Opening 3 games:

August 16 Birmingham H
August 18 Burnley A
August 22 Wigan A

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DONCASTER ROVERS PREDICTION LEAGUE CHAMPION 2008