Soccer: Title challengers can help us produce Giggs

Ryan Giggs claims Manchester United can have ‘‘no excuses’’ if they fail to win the Champions League this season.

United have been knocked out at the quarter-final stage for the past two seasons following their 1999 triumph.

Sir Alex Ferguson and his players feel the lack of competition in the Premiership blunted United’s edge in Europe.

United have no such worry this season and Arsenal and Liverpool are chasing them all the way in the battle for the Premier League title.

Giggs feels this fight at home should help bring the best out of United as they prepare to face European Cup holders Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

‘‘I think it was definitely a factor in the last couple of years with our performances in Europe,’’ he said.

‘‘We had more or less won the league by Christmas. This year is different and we can have no excuses.

‘‘Every game is a big game now. The games are coming thick and fast. We’re playing on a weekend and in the week and that’s what players love.

‘‘We love big games and we want the games to come and hopefully the lads will produce their best stuff now.

‘‘I think when you’re on the edge and you need to perform, you produce your best football.’’

Giggs says the memories of those European exits to Real Madrid and Bayern still haunt the players.

The Wales international feels United paid the price for not taking their chances in the first leg of the quarter-finals.