Champions League: Giggs blow for United

Ryan Giggs’ hamstring curse struck yet again on a night of Champions League disappointment for Manchester United.

Giggs faces another spell in the treatment room after he came off just 17 minutes into United’s 1-1 draw with Valencia at Old Trafford.

The winger will miss Sunday’s Premiership showdown with Arsenal at Old Trafford, while he must also be doubtful the trip to Leeds on March 3.

Giggs, who has already missed four weeks this season because of his troublesome hamstrings, felt a twinge in the muscle in training, but wrongly thought he would be all right to play.

A grim-faced Sir Alex Ferguson said: "He actually felt it a bit in training, but thought he’d be OK.

"It’s difficult to say with Ryan’s hamstrings how long he’ll be out.

"Sometimes they recover quicker and sometimes slower, but he won’t be playing on Sunday.’’

United were in control before Giggs went off and they were leading 1-0 thanks to a 12th-minute strike from Andy Cole, which had been created by the Welshman.

However, Valencia played their way back into the game and deservedly equalised in the 87th minute when the unfortunate Wes Brown turned a left-wing cross from substitute Vicente into his own net.

The draw denied United a place in the quarter-finals and they need two more points from their remaining two games to qualify.

An unhappy Ferguson felt the loss of Giggs had disrupted his side, although he admitted Valencia were worth a point.

"It was unfortunate and we had to change the shape of our team,’’ said the Reds boss.

"When Ryan was on we looked a big threat to them and they couldn’t cope with his penetration.

"Their whole plan was to kill the width in our game and Ryan had found the answer, made a fantastic goal, but then had to come off after 17 minutes."

The match was also a disappointment for David Beckham, who had another poor game in front of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

The United midfielder was also booked for a foul on Valencia defender Amedeo Carboni, although he did well to keep his cool when the Italian cut him down minutes later with a late tackle.

Ferguson said: "I don’t think David is playing at his best form.

"Equally Carboni did very well against him so it was a bit of both."

United’s next match in Athens against Panathinaikos has suddenly become much more important.

United lead Group A with eight points - two more than Valencia and Sturm Graz and a win in Greece would see them over the finishing line.

Ferguson was philosophical about United’s position after they had been just three minutes away from qualifying.

"It’s nothing unusual for us," he said.

"We do tend to make things difficult for ourselves, but we do respond to the last call."

The draw keeps Valencia, last year’s beaten finalists, in the hunt for a place in the last eight going into their last two games against Panathinaikos and Sturm.

Coach Hector Cuper said: "I think it’s dangerous to speculate on how many points we’re going to need.

"A draw here means the future is now in our own hands, but it’s wrong to speculate on how many more points we need.

"But we do know that six points and we will be there and whether it is at home or in Graz, we will be going for victory."