German jinx is well and truly laid to rest

IT WAS billed as Giggs against Raul and Rooney against his demons; and in keeping with a one-sided tie both United players were runaway winners on a night when the Red Devils’ German jinx was brushed aside with quality and aplomb.

Giggs, making a British record 140th European appearance, is a quite remarkable footballer and even up against 71-goal Raul, the top scorer ever in the Champions League, Giggs continued his dominance of a competition that has already seen him marked out as United’s most important players this season, no matter what his age.

It was Giggs’ quality from a new midfield role that was the difference in the quarter-final against Chelsea, providing two crucial assists and reminding Carlo Ancelotti that no-one in west London is capable of linking midfield and attack in the style of the wily 37-year-old; and it was Giggs who made the difference last night in Gelsenkirchen, too.