RYAN GIGGS HAS offered a sarcastic response to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s questioning of Manchester United’s fabled Class of ’92, with the Welshman saying “he obviously knows more about that club than us”.
An enigmatic Swede who spent the 2016-17 season at Old Trafford before returning for a brief spell the following year has hit out at some iconic figures.
With United having made a slow start to current campaign under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, former stars were quick to offer their opinion on goings on at a team they boast strong ties with.
The likes of Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, Phil Neville, David Beckham and Giggs were among those to ponder whether changes were required and if supposedly world class talent was delivering on lofty expectations.
Ibrahimovic has accused those who stepped out of United’s academy system to play a leading role in an era of unprecedented success of “always complaining and criticising”.
The 37-year-old has spent time in Manchester and is aware of the attention placed on the club, but Giggs has suggested that he should allow those who have a little more experience to speak out ahead of him.
Giggs, who is now in charge of the Wales national team, said: “Only Nicky [Butt] is connected with the club now, but when you play over 2000 games [3,450 in total] between us, we are going to have an opinion.
“Sometimes it’s positive, sometimes negative, but it doesn’t have an effect on results.
We are supporters. That’s what football is about, having different opinions. But he [Ibrahimovic] obviously knows more about the club than us.”
Giggs continues to keep a close eye on events at Old Trafford, regardless of what Ibrahimovic may make of that, and admits he is concerned by the growing influence of City in Manchester.
Pep Guardiola’s reigning Premier League champions remain in the hunt for an historic quadruple this season, with it possible that they could go one better than United’s Treble-winning heroes of 1999.
Giggs, who is preparing Wales for a friendly date with Trinidad & Tobago and a Euro 2020 qualification clash with Slovakia, said:
“I’ve got enough to worry about, please don’t bring that up! They’re a fantastic team, aren’t they?
“They’ve already got one and United going out of the FA Cup makes that a little bit easier for them. They’ve got a long way to go, but just like us in the Treble, you need a lot of things to go for you, that bit of luck, which they had at the weekend.
“But they are a brilliant team. It will be interesting to see what they can achieve.”
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Think he’d been 80/1 before the race. Wish I’d had a few quid on him.
@Brendan Heery: very hard to even see him as a potential winner at that point man. I’d keep an eye on him for the vuelta.
Hindsight! Some excellent Cycling tipsters online so may well have been tipped up. I think Porte may be a bit of value for the Tour. Good to see squeaky clean skyboys or team Ineos as they are now get a comeuppance. Criterium Dr Dauphine should be a good pointer.
@Bryn Capstan: I’ve a feeling alaphillipe might go for the GC in the tour and could be a dark horse. Haven’t studied the course but I know he has a decent enough team around him to get up there.
@Andrew Tuite: I can’t see Alap lasting the pace day after day in the high mountains with the GC boys, he’d do well to finish top 15. He would be foolish not to ride for stages and polka dots like last year. Mas will be DQS’s GC man. You could be on to something though, they could potentially be a formidable duo.
@Andrew Tuite: might have a shot at the points jersey and will be value as Sagan will be no odds. More of a puncheur, classics rider but could turn into a GC contender down the line as our own Sean Kelly did. Hard to look outside top 10 in the betting, Nibali apparently just going for stages despite his Giro 2nd. Bardet may be France’s best hope still for a tour they have not won since ’85 I believe. Mas looks a man for the future though as is 24 and white jersey could be on his particular radar.
@Bryn Capstan: bardet wont win it. He does not have it in him in my opinion. Maybe put a tenner on him though just in case