• Premier League

Giggs adds to doubts over future

ESPN staff
May 6, 2014
Ryan Giggs came on for Tom Lawrence in what could be his final Manchester United appearance as a player © Getty Images
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Ryan Giggs appeared to join the crying game on Tuesday night and admitted he does not know what the future holds for him.

The interim manager produced what could have been interpreted as a tearful farewell, as a player at least, after a cameo for his 963rd Manchester United appearance in a 3-1 win against Hull in his club's final home game of the season.

Giggs is trying to keep his focus is still on United's last game of the season, against Southampton, on Sunday, but looked like he had joined a series of the Premier League's highest profile players - including Luis Suarez, John Terry and Ashley Cole - to have let emotion get the better of them in the face of disappointment with the season nearing its conclusion.

Giggs said: "When the season is over, I'll have to seriously consider what I'm going to do in terms of my career.

"There have been times this season when I have felt that it wouldn't be right for me to play on next year.

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"But after other games, like the win over Olympiakos, I have had the urge to keep going. I've not made my mind up either way and there is lots to consider, not least discussing the matter with the new manager.

"I will wait until the season has finished and then get a holiday and think about it in the next couple of weeks."

Giggs believes he, and fellow United veterans Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand will know their fate in the next few weeks but also expects United to sign players in their positions.

He added: "For myself, it is pretty relaxed. I don't know if it is the same with Rio and Patrice, I expect it is, it is not as if they are young players and they are up in the air. If they carry on, they carry on and if they leave, they leave. New players are going to come in anyway, whether they stay so it is up in the air but in the next couple of weeks, I think it will get sorted [for] the three of us."

United are keen to keep Giggs in a coaching capacity with Louis van Gaal expected to be appointed as the successor to the sacked David Moyes as manager in the next week.

But Giggs is unsure of the timescale for an appointment, saying: "It could be the next few days, it could be the next couple of weeks."

Whether or not Giggs is retained as a member of the coaching staff remains to be seen, but he is in pole position to become the Dutchman's No.2.

"My concentration has not changed, I will do my job on and off the pitch and we will see what happens after Sunday," Giggs said after getting a two-goal reward from James Wilson for giving the 18-year-old his debut.

"The fans have kept supporting us and they will carry on supporting us. I said when I took over I wanted to bring excitement back. Some of the forward play from the three young lads was brilliant. We got the young lads in to train with us and they never looked out of place.

"I wanted to freshen things up from Saturday and they never let us down. James Wilson is not just a finisher, his all-round play is very good and he is exciting."

In an address to fans from the Old Trafford pitch, Giggs paid special tribute to departing defending Nemanja Vidic, who will leave United for Inter this summer. Vidic was presented with a special gift by Sir Bobby Charlton before the game and came off the bench to rapturous applause when he replaced the injured Phil Jones after 22 minutes.

"Nemanja Vidic has been a brilliant player for us, a brilliant defender. He shared so much success with the lads, he goes with our good wishes and hopefully he does well," Giggs said.

Vidic also addressed the fans after the final whistle and paid tribute to their support throughout his time at the club.

The Serb spoke after the game of his time at United and insisted it was maybe the "best part of my life".

He added: "It was hard in many ways, because it was my last game at Old Trafford, we did not have a great year as it was my first year not celebrating a trophy. It was a tough season.

"This is maybe the best part of my life. I have three kids, won lots of trophies and have been loved by fans. The fans showed their class when we didn't do well this season.

"I was very emotional. I have to say my heart will always be at this club. I have spent so many years here and been part of such a good time and worked with so many great people.

"It is for the board to decide but Ryan has a real talent to be the manager and a good manager. If he is not successful this time then in the future he should be considered to be manager of this club."

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