INTERNATIONAL NEWS RUSH: BE FRIENDLY TO GIGGS Dragons fans should lay off ... and blame Fergie instead
IAN RUSH has pleaded with supporters to lay off Ryan Giggs over his commitment to Wales, claiming it was Sir Alex Ferguson who blocked him from playing friendlies for his country.
Former Manchester United star Giggs has faced hostility from some die-hard Welsh fans.
Those supporters did not want him as national boss because of a perceived lack of loyalty to his country after missing dozens of friendlies to concentrate on his club career.
Giggs won 64 caps between his debut against Germany in 1991 European Championship qualifier and his final appearance in 2007.
But during that period the most d decorated dP Premier iL League player ever missed 30 out of 40 possible friendlies for Wales. H He won 13 Premier L League t i t l es, t wo Champions Leagues, four FA Cups and four League Cups – but f failed to make a single app appearance in a friendly match from 1991 to 2000. That’s a total of 16 matches. It’s those damning statistics that have turned some fans against i Gi Giggs – b but R Rush h (l (left), f ) W Wales. l Maybe M b if he h had h d turned d elite performance director for up for Wales on every occasion, Wales, reckons it was not the perhaps his Manchester United United star’s fault. career wouldn’t have been n
The former Liverpool striker as long, so people can said: “People will throw at him look at it that way as that he didn’t sometimes always well. turn up for friendlies. “So, there is no issue
“But maybe Alex Ferguson for me. Ryan has shown (right) had a lot of say in that, his commitment by wanting ng rather than Ryan, and maybe a this job and taking over at a time lot of people don’t know about when we have just lost a good that. For me, there is no question manager in Chris Coleman. at all over his commitment to
Spectacular
“There may be some fans who wouldn’t have chosen him and, to win them over, I think he will most probably have to start off winning games – but that’s what it’s all about.” Wales’ incredible Euro 2016 has put added pressure on Giggs. Yet he made a spectacular start to his new career, guiding Wales to a 6-0 win over China t hanks to a Gareth Bale hat-trick. And he must continue winning to fend off the critics, says Rush. “After the w way the team performed at the Euros in 2016, probably there is a lot of pressure on him,” said th the Kop idol.
“That’s why we all hope, in the fi first couple of games in China, h he can get off to a winning start.
“We have the players now to b be successful and if he’s winning th the fans will be on his side.”
Apart from a four-game spell in charge of United after David Moyes was axed, and two years working under Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford, Giggs has no real managerial experience in his own right. B But Rush believes he has th the necessary credentials, f following a stellar playing career and w working behind the s scenes at United. “I wasn’t surprised they gave h him the job even though he’s not got any managerial experience,” added Rush.
“He interviewed well and some of the other candidates don’t have that experience either, so I think Ryan was a good choice.
“Mark Hughes took his first job in management with Wales too and he didn’t come across as a player who would make a top manager when we were in our playing days.
“I’ve been speaking to Ryan the last five or six years and you change your outlook. When you are a player, you concentrate on your playing career.
“But since being involved with him more the last few years, you can see he has changed. He’s learned a lot from his time coaching at United.
“He learned under Ferguson and Louis van Gaal – now his time has come.”