• Premier League

United haven't betrayed their traditions, says Giggs

Ryan Giggs has hit back at suggestions Manchester United have betrayed their traditions in their summer spending spree and said: "The club will never change."

The sales of homegrown players Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley prompted Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant manager Mike Phelan to say United had lost their identity.

However Giggs, who came through the youth system to make a record 963 appearances in a 23-year first-team career, is adamant United will still develop young players despite the club having spent over £150 million on new recruits this summer.

The 40-year-old, who is assistant to current manager Louis van Gaal, believes the Dutchman's history of working with untried personnel at Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich proves he will follow Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby in promoting inexperienced players.

"The club will never change. The history of the club is to play exciting football, give youngsters a chance and keep to the traditions of the club," Giggs said.

"Danny has left which is disappointing because you never want to see a home grown player leave but this is a manager who gave [Clarence] Seedorf his chance, [Patrick] Kluivert, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta and Thomas Muller their chances.

"He's got a track record of giving young players their chance. Tyler Blackett has played every game so far this season. Underneath [Wayne] Rooney and [Robin] van Persie, we have [Adnan] Januzaj and James Wilson."

Giggs believes the United supporters will encourage managers to pick youngsters, adding: "It will always happen that players will leave Manchester United but we've got to make sure that young players come through because United fans demand it.

"I want to see them come through as well. Fans never get on the backs of the young players if they make a mistake. They always encourage them. That has always been the history of Manchester United and we never want to lose that."

United announced on Wednesday a record annual revenue of £433.2million.

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