Chris Smalling Tags Ryan Giggs ‘Role Model’ for Manchester United Players
Giggs who will be 40 on Friday had a very good performance in Wednesday night’s 5-0 Champions League demolition of Bayer Leverkusen. Although he did not score and had only one direct assist, with Wayne Rooney having four, His experience shone through as he controlled the game at the pace he wished, always seeming to make the right pass.
“Ryan is a role model for us all,” said Smalling. “He is a cool head in the middle. Despite his age, even in the 90th minute he was still taking on three or four players. It is terrific to see such a legend playing amongst us. His pass for Nani’s goal at the end just sums him up.
He has that incredible vision. He is terrific and an example to everyone. “We really punished them. Bayern Munich were the only team to take points off them at their ground in the league this season, which speaks for itself. But we put them to the sword.
“Once we got two goals ahead you could see their heads drop. They knew they were going to be well beaten because we were not going to let that lead slip.” Leverkusen could still join United in the knockout stages providing Shakhtar Donetsk do not leave Old Trafford with a victory that would deprive Moyes’ side of top spot in Group A when the sides meet again.
The 5-0 hauling is United’s biggest goal margin ever in an away match and could turn out to be a significant evening for Moyes, who has still not convinced everyone he is the right man to replace Ferguson.
Smalling was criticised by Moyes for conceding the injury-time free-kick from which Cardiff got their equaliser on Sunday but redeemed himself on wednesday when He chipped in with a goal, finishing off from close range at the far post, from a cross provided by Rooney.
“We have been threatening to do that all season,” he said. “There have been a few times when we have gone ahead in games and not got the second that would allow us to kick on to make ourselves a bit more comfortable.I am quite pleased to get on the scoresheet too.
“I have been getting closer and closer over the last few games, although my goal was probably the easiest chance I will ever have. We are starting to look a real threat from set pieces, which is important because the manager wants us to chip in. We have a few players who can be dangerous in those areas and with the delivery Rooney and Giggs were putting in, we were due.”