I TREATED MYSELF ON AN ADD CHOC BASIS

was part of the side that claimed a historic treble in 1999, landing the first European Cup crown of his long and illustrious career following the last-gasp comeback win over Bayern Munich in Barcelona (above, right). The United legend, who won 34 major trophies during a record-breaking 24-year spell at Old Trafford, said the first big win is always the best. Which is why he was left ‘buzzing’ at the sight of Ronaldo and Rooney lifting the Champions League trophy aloft in Moscow.

Giggs, speaking on the Manchester United podcast, said: “1999 was the best feeling I’ve had. When I grew up as a United fan we hadn’t won the league for 26 years.

“Then we narrowly did it, so the first league win and the European Cup were the wins I treasure most. “The later ones, it was just more satisfying, because you would see some of your team-mates win it for the first time. Like Moscow in 2008, you’d see Rooney and Ronaldo, all those players who’d never won it before, you’d be buzzing for them as well as yourself.

“The first time you win the league and Champions League it’s all about you, but

RYAN GIGGS used to ban himself from having treats if he thought his form wasn’t good enough.

The Wales manager broke a host of records during a remarkable 24-year career with Manchester United that saw him land a staggering 34 major trophies.

Giggs won a record 13 league titles as well as making a club-record 963 appearances.

But despite all his success, the 46-year-old has revealed he would punish himself following a the later ones it’s a different feeling. You try to enjoy it because it could be your last one. You remember that feeling you had, that they have now.

“You know what they’ve gone through and until you win that first one, you always have that doubt in your mind, ‘Am I ever going to win it,’ especially if you have come close a few times.”

Giggs went on to become part of the coaching staff at United when Fergie retired in 2013 and was replaced by David Moyes.

He admits he felt obliged to accept the new role but struggled to enjoy it because he wanted to focus on his final season as a player.

Giggs said: “It was a little bit different. I was already distancing myself from the players, but I was 39, 40, so did I have anything in common with the younger players? Not really, but you’re bad game by avoiding all the food he liked most.

Giggs would even ban his guilty pleasure, chocolate, from his diet until he scored a goal.

He said: “I love chocolate and loads of butter on my toast. When I wasn’t playing well or felt a bit sluggish, I cut them out completely.

“If I was playing well and having loads of butter, I’d carry on. It wasn’t physical, it was mental. It was punishing yourself. I left the Dairy Milk in the cupboard until I scored.”

Giggs (right) admits he had to adapt with the times as players’ diets changed over the years and became much stricter.

He added: “When I first came into the team, we used to eat at Old Trafford three hours before kick-off and we would have steak. “Then it changed.

“It used to be chicken and beans and soup. Then for the majority of my career it would have been pasta for a normal kick-off.

“For the early kick-offs at lunchtime, it would probably have been cereals and maybe some scrambled eggs on toast.” in the dressing room and still team-mates. I was doing my Pro Licence in Turkey when David Moyes rang to ask me to join him as a coach.

“I thought, ‘This could be my last season’ and I wanted to concentrate on that, but I also realised this was my next step, so I took it.

“But I didn’t take one session because I was playing, so you can’t.

“I was involved in the meetings and went in early to training, but even that became difficult because you’d arrive an hour and a half before and I had a routine in which I’d get ready for training, so even that was getting more and more difficult.

“My relationship with the players didn’t change, I’d just come down from the meeting and they’d ask me, ‘What are we doing today’?”

Moyes was sacked after a disastrous 10 months in charge and replaced by Louis van Gaal, with Giggs working alongside the Dutchman after finally hanging up his boots.

Giggs admits he loved the experience and added: “They had a different approach, they were different people with different personalities and that’s why I always talk about Louis really regarding my coaching, because for two years I was in the meetings with that responsibility.

“I talk so fondly of him because that was my first proper coaching role.

“When you’re playing, you don’t really know about all the preparation or what the manager has seen on the videos, watching the opposition.

“The coaching staff would watch hours and hours of it.

“It was completely different, including the manmanagement and the sort of things Sir Alex would do that I picked up on.

“But with Louis I could see first hand the different systems and why he’d play them. The reasons for this and for that, it was a really good experience.”

It was so satisfying seeing those players who had never won the trophy before