Winning Cures All For Giggs And United
Ryan Giggs insists there will be no complaints of tiredness in the
Manchester United ranks as long as the team keep winning.
Injury-hit United face a testing Barclays Premiership battle with
Sheffield United at Old Trafford tonight, desperate for a win to
keep Chelsea at arm's length in the battle for the title.
Coming just three days after Sir Alex Ferguson's men sealed an FA
Cup final appearance by beating Watford, it would hardly be a
surprise if United laboured physically.
But, with United now consigned to playing twice a week for the
remaining month of the campaign, Giggs knows this is no time to
slacken off.
"The games are coming thick and fast now but winning helps the
tiredness part," he said.
"We are not doing much training anyway; just ticking over really,
so as long as we get enough rest and prepare properly, we should be
okay.
"In any case, you want to be part of big games and in three
competitions at this stage of the season.
"We have not managed that in the last couple of years, so it is
great to be in this position."
Although United remain on course to emulate their historic 1999
treble-winning campaign, Giggs has claimed the task will be far
harder this time around because of the growing number of
absentees.
With Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic and Mikael Silvestre definitely
ruled out and Rio Ferdinand and John O'Shea doubtful as well,
Belfast-born teenager Craig Cathcart could be handed his debut at
right-back.
Cathcart was pulled out of United's squad for last night's FA Youth
Cup final first leg with Liverpool at Anfield and it appears
Ferguson is ready to place his trust in the teenager, who normally
features in central defence.
It is hardly an ideal scenario, even facing a team who have lost
seven away games on the bounce, although Giggs is hopeful United
can cope.
"It is going to be tougher this time," admitted Giggs.
"In 1999 we played two cup semi-finals against Arsenal but because
we had almost a full squad available, we put out two different
teams.
"We have had a few injuries lately but it looks like we have a few
lads coming back, which will be a big plus.
"Also, because we have won a few games by reasonably big scorelines
recently, the manager has been able to bring players off early and
give a few of us a rest."
