Sir Alex Ferguson decided a fortnight ago that Ryan Giggs would be the key man for Manchester United against Chelsea. Giggs repaid Ferguson's faith with an outstanding performance that left Chelsea's midfield, in particular Michael Ballack, outclassed. At 35, the former Wales captain may no longer be capable of the lung-bursting left-wing raids of old but Giggs' footballing brain remains a crucial asset for the Old Trafford side.
"Ryan has been fantastic," said Ferguson. "I told him two weeks ago he would be playing because this type of game is meant for him. His ability to hold the ball and beat a man in midfield is second to none. Ballack could not live with him."
There had been some suggestion that, after almost two decades at the highest level, the finest winger of his generation was ready to call time on his career. Such thoughts should be shelved immediately. By his own admission, Giggs may have needed assistance from Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-Sung yesterday, but give him an inch and he will still take a mile.
"I am enjoying the role," Giggs said. "I am not able to run up and down the wing like I used to so I just use my experience, either playing off the front or in central midfield. I have the legs of the younger lads around me to rely on and I feel quite happy in there."
Giggs will be pulled out of the firing line on Wednesday when Michael Carrick or Anderson will be asked to tackle Wigan. Victory for United plus another at Bolton on Saturday would take them top.
Yesterday's 3–0 defeat of Chelsea at Old Trafford was the first league game in which they have scored more than once since mid-November. Nemanja Vidic, who scored the opener against Chelsea, said he now felt United's scoring worries were behind them.
"This season the problem has been scoring at the right times," the Serbian central defender said. "If you can get one in the first half the other team has to open up a bit more to chase the result. Once we get into that situation we are very dangerous because we have such great attacking players. That is what we have finally managed to do.
"That early goal is crucial because so often this season the opposition has pulled 11 men behind the ball and we have found it hard to break them open."
Vidic added: "It was an important weekend because Liverpool only drew at Stoke and we beat Chelsea but we don't look at our opponents too much. We just have to concentrate on ourselves. We still have some big teams to play at Old Trafford and the results depend on us, not them."
Giggs, a veteran of 10 championship-winning campaigns, agreed: "It is going to be tough," he said. "Aston Villa are playing some good stuff and Liverpool are top of the league at the moment. One result against Chelsea is not going to win us the league but it gives us confidence going into a tough week with Wigan and Bolton to come."
United also benefit from the experience of being involved in so many title battles, something even Jamie Carragher has admitted Liverpool cannot boast. It is one of the reasons why the Old Trafford camp have been so taken aback at manager Rafael Benítez's outbursts.
Not that Giggs is bothered. "Benítez's comments don't make any difference to us," he said. "Players don't tend to get involved with the psychological side. They just go out and perform. Games and championships are won on the pitch. [Benítez's comments] had no bearing on yesterday's game and I don't think they will have any bearing on the rest of the season either."
What will have a bearing over the next few months is the squad strength United have amassed. Carlos Tevez received a huge ovation – which he pointedly acknowledged – when he started his warm-up yesterday but never got close to coming off the bench. Nani did not even make it out of the stands and Zoran Tosic's arrival from Partizan Belgrade only increases Ferguson's options.
If United have a fear, it concerns Rio Ferdinand, whose back injury is due to be scanned to try to identify the cause of the spasms that have kept him out for a month. With Wes Brown currently on the sidelines after an ankle operation, United are short of experience in that department. Little wonder therefore that Ferguson has referred to 21-year-old Jonny Evans' contribution as "a Godsend".
