Giggs can't see United out

Ryan Giggs refuses to entertain the thought of defeat as Manchester United attempt to save their Champions League skins at Old Trafford tonight.

The Red Devils are looking to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the opening leg against Zalaegerszeg, knowing total humiliation awaits them if they fail in their task.

Giggs, scorer of United’s second equaliser against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Friday, is aware of the importance of victory and is not letting any other thought enter his mind.

"The Champions League is the biggest stage," he said.

"You are playing against the best players and the best teams and we all want to be part of it.

"We can’t think about defeat. When they scored at the end of the last game it left us with an empty feeling in our stomachs.

"We know how much ability there is in this team, if we can get that on the pitch we will be all right."

Manager Alex Ferguson has yet to decide whether to deploy Giggs in his usual role wide on the left or push him further forward and retain the side which started against Chelsea.

Either way, he will be looking to maintain the pace which would probably have brought them victory against the Londoners, had referee Graham Poll awarded a straightforward penalty when Carlo Cudicini felled Paul Scholes in the area.

"Friday night was very encouraging for us," he said.

"The first half was a bit disappointing but we stepped up a level in the second and proved what we can do. We need to maintain that for 90 minutes tonight.

"Hopefully what happened two weeks ago was just a one-off.

"The pitch was very bumpy, which suited them more than it did us. We couldn’t get our passing going so hopefully that will change on a better pitch."

Ferguson does have the option of bringing in record signing Rio Ferdinand for his debut. However, his hopes of reinforcing his squad with the arrival of former French Under-21 full-back Julien Escude appear to have bitten the dust.

Talks between United chief executive Peter Kenyon and his French counterpart broke up without

agreement late last night.

Escude had publicly stated his desire to join the Red Devils and had refused to train with the Rennes first-team squad in protest until he injured knee ligaments walking his dog in the middle of last week.

It appears though that United refused to increase their initial bid, or at least did not come near enough to Rennes’ valuation.

"There was no more money, so there is no agreement," said a Rennes spokesman last night.

"Maybe there will be another meeting at some point but at the moment nothing has been arranged.

We will wait to see what Manchester United do now."

The bright news for Ferguson is that Ferdinand has resumed full training after recovering from his pre-season ankle injury.

He may sit tonight’s game out as his manager looks to the more difficult challenges ahead.

"He has a chance and there is an attraction about playing him no question," said the Scot.

"But it might be better to settle for Saturday and that is more likely."

Goalkeeper Fabien Barthez has no chance of making it though, and Ferguson admitted he still does not know when the Frenchman is likely to return from a hip problem, a situation which may see him bring in a loan signing before Saturday’s transfer deadline.

"Fabien’s injury is in a delicate area for a goalkeeper and we have to make sure he doesn’t re-injure himself," said the United chief.

"The fluid he had has gone now, which is important, so if that situation continues he can really get into his goalkeeping training, which in turn will give us a better idea of how long he will be out."