Giggs targets ‘big four’ scalps
United visit Chelsea on Sunday, after which they must tackle Liverpool and Tottenham, with a visit to Norwich — who have lost just three times at Carrow Road this season — in between.
Little wonder no-one at Old Trafford is getting too confident, even though they moved level on points with Manchester City by beating Stoke on Tuesday night.
However, as a veteran of all 12 previous Premier League championship triumphs, Giggs knows the value that can be gained by beating major rivals.
“We have shown reasonable form and if we can get good results in those kinds of games, confidence will be sky high,” Giggs told Inside United.
“We know that it’s a tough run, but those are the games you want to be playing in.
“We are not quite at the make-or-break part of the season, but it is an important time, and we know that if we win those games, then we’ll be in good shape and good form going into the run-in.
“We know what’s ahead of us and what we have to do.”
With both Giggs and Alex Ferguson talking positively about a contract extension, it seems certain the veteran Welshman will extend his career into another season.
Such has been his impact, it seems highly likely that long-time teammate Paul Scholes will join him after the midfielder abandoned his retirement at the beginning of last month.
“I thought he’d retired too early — a lot of people did,” said Giggs.
“Scholesy probably thought he’d made up his mind and when you’ve done that, you can’t really change it.
“But he was still the best in training with the reserves, so he obviously felt he could still do it.
“Nobody was going to disagree with that and it was a massive boost when we found out he was coming back before the Manchester City game.”
Scholes will never achieve Giggs’ landmarks though, with the next due to arrive in three appearances’ time, which will be his 900th for United.
Yet the Welshman dismisses the accolades now.
“I have never really paid attention to them,” he said. “The big one was overtaking Sir Bobby [Charlton] so that was a proud moment. But now I’ll just see where it takes me.
“We’ll sit down pretty soon and see what we want to do but at the moment I feel good and I want to carry on.”
After spending Tuesday night on the bench, Giggs is virtually certain to play some part at Stamford Bridge, when Ferguson is hopeful Wayne Rooney, Nani and Ashley Young will all be in contention to return.
The United boss also has a big decision to make about his goalkeeper if David de Gea has recovered from the illness that meant Ben Amos was pitched into his Premier League debut in midweek.
“We have done very well away from home this season and we need to be good from now on,” said Ferguson.
“We’ve got some really important away games in the run-in — Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester City are going to be crucial. The players know what they need to do.
“They know their responsibilities and they know the standard and expectations at the club and they have to carry those things with them when they go into games.”
Meanwhile, there have been calls for Chelsea’s John Terry to stand aside as England skipper until the conclusion of his court case later this year.
Terry denies racially abusing Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road in October.
As England coach Fabio Capello has previously stated his intention to continue selecting his captain until the conclusion of the case, confirmation that Terry’s five-day hearing will not take place until July 9 seems certain to rubber-stamp the Chelsea captain’s place at this summer’s Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.
However, there are some who feel that Terry should not be selected due to the extreme sensitivities of the allegation that has been levelled against him, and the fact the player he is accused of abusing is the brother of Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand, who still has a chance of being selected himself.
Piara Powar, the executive director of European football’s anti-discrimination body — Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) questioned the decision.
“Innocent until proven guilty,” he wrote on Twitter.
“But should John Terry remain as England capt through the Euros? I can’t see how he can.”
Reading striker and radio pundit Jason Roberts tweeted: “Believe me...the Dressing room at the Euros will be TOXIC unless the correct decision is made..!!!”
Terry’s court date will come just eight days after the final of Euro 2012.
The FA have not made any comment on the matter and Capello is unlikely to make any public statement until the days before England’s friendly with Holland at Wembley on February 29.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
