Monday, March 12, 2012

Giggs warns against repeat of 2006 Celtic loss

Ryan Giggs has urged his Manchester United teammates to quickly see off Celtic's challenge Wednesday to avoid a repeat of their loss in the 2006 Champions League.

The veteran winger is still astonished that United's supremacy was undone by one of Shunsuke Nakamura's trademark free kicks with 10 minutes remaining.

"We played really well in the first half but we just didn't put our chances away," Giggs said. "If you do that in Europe it doesn't matter who you're playing against, you're going to get punished. We played well, but ultimately we didn't put our chances away _ so we didn't deserve to win."

That defeat troubles manager Alex Ferguson even more as a former player with Celtic's fierce Glasgow rival Rangers.

The last trip to Glasgow, however, came after a slender 3-2 victory over Celtic, while the return two years later is on the back of an emphatic 3-0 win over Gordon Strachan's side last month.

"We need to win because it would guarantee qualification from the group," Ferguson said. "In 2006 we dominated possession and enjoyed our football but forgot to score a goal. We must remember it's important to finish the game off."

United is tied for the Group E lead with Villarreal on seven points, while both Celtic and Aalborg have just one.

"It won't be easy, only Barcelona have won at Parkhead (in the Champions League) so that tells you everything," Ferguson said. "You are going to have to run that extra yard or you will soon be found out by them. I don't think the Celtic fans would forgive non-triers. We know what it's like from two years ago and having watched the Champions League games over the years.

"You have to respect their home record and their fans have been fantastic. With 60,000 screaming banshees it will be electric. Celtic have also been chastened by the 3-0 defeat down here so the players will be fired up."

Strachan isn't relishing facing his former side.

"We need to be at our best and need to have a bit of luck. We must have things going for us," Strachan said. "In terms of effort, motivation, character and determination, we will be fine. But United are the best team in the world in terms of ability.

"Italy would have no chance against Man. United. France? No chance. Man United are far better. Roma lost 7-1 to them. It's unbelievable what they can do to other teams."

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