English Premier League Giggs looking to become saviour from sidelines
Manchester United legend to lead first game as interim manager against Norwich
UNITED: Interim manager Ryan Giggs will be aided by former fellow teammates Paul Scholes, Phil Neville and Nicky Butt to salvage what is left of the season. PHOTO: AFP
MANCHESTER:
Ryan Giggs will bid to revive Manchester United's battered spirits as the Old Trafford icon takes charge against Norwich on Saturday following the abrupt end to David Moyes' disastrous reign.
Moyes' miserable 10-month spell at United reached a bitter conclusion with his sacking on Tuesday the wake of a 2-0 defeat at his former club Everton.
That loss was United's 11th Premier League reverse of a campaign which has seen the English champions suffer a shocking slump to seventh in the table.
For a club that was used to unmatched stability during Alex Ferguson's reign, which lasted more than a quarter of a century before he stepped down last summer, it has been a tumultuous and depressing few days at Old Trafford.
But with the departure of the unloved Moyes, many United fans and players too will be in better spirits when struggling Norwich arrive in Manchester this weekend.
There will definitely be a spring in the step of Welsh midfielder Giggs, who had reportedly grown frustrated at the way his role as player-coach had been marginalised by Moyes.
Giggs, 40, has stepped up to become interim manager until a permanent replacement can be found during the close-season, with Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who will be replaced by Guus Hiddink after the World Cup, the bookmakers' favourite to take eventually over at Old Trafford.
Moyes' assistant coach Phil Neville, a former United player, has stayed on to help his old friend Giggs, who is also being assisted by former teammates Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.
Butt, who was already working as United's reserve team coach, admits it is a ‘proud moment’ for all four men to be involved in the management of the United first team.
"It will be massive for us, a proud moment for us all. To be there together is a bit of a surreal thing," said Butt.
"We walked in here together when we were 12 and to be here now is a very proud moment.
"We're here to try to help the club and get the results that we want from now until the end of the season. What happens after that, who knows?
"Saturday is a massive occasion, not only for Ryan, but for the staff, the fans and the players as well because they know that we've underachieved as a club this year.
Wenger fears for ‘future’ managers
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he feared for the future of his trade in England after Moyes was sacked by struggling United.
Wenger, now the Premier League's longest-serving manager after taking charge of north London side Arsenal in 1996, said the high attrition rate among managers in England would ultimately be detrimental to the standard of coaching.
"If you want quality people in any job,” said Wenger. “You need to give them time to develop and to become good, or people with the quality will not come into our job anymore.”
Ryan Giggs will bid to revive Manchester United's battered spirits as the Old Trafford icon takes charge against Norwich on Saturday following the abrupt end to David Moyes' disastrous reign.
Moyes' miserable 10-month spell at United reached a bitter conclusion with his sacking on Tuesday the wake of a 2-0 defeat at his former club Everton.
That loss was United's 11th Premier League reverse of a campaign which has seen the English champions suffer a shocking slump to seventh in the table.
For a club that was used to unmatched stability during Alex Ferguson's reign, which lasted more than a quarter of a century before he stepped down last summer, it has been a tumultuous and depressing few days at Old Trafford.
But with the departure of the unloved Moyes, many United fans and players too will be in better spirits when struggling Norwich arrive in Manchester this weekend.
There will definitely be a spring in the step of Welsh midfielder Giggs, who had reportedly grown frustrated at the way his role as player-coach had been marginalised by Moyes.
Giggs, 40, has stepped up to become interim manager until a permanent replacement can be found during the close-season, with Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal, who will be replaced by Guus Hiddink after the World Cup, the bookmakers' favourite to take eventually over at Old Trafford.
Moyes' assistant coach Phil Neville, a former United player, has stayed on to help his old friend Giggs, who is also being assisted by former teammates Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes.
Butt, who was already working as United's reserve team coach, admits it is a ‘proud moment’ for all four men to be involved in the management of the United first team.
"It will be massive for us, a proud moment for us all. To be there together is a bit of a surreal thing," said Butt.
"We walked in here together when we were 12 and to be here now is a very proud moment.
"We're here to try to help the club and get the results that we want from now until the end of the season. What happens after that, who knows?
"Saturday is a massive occasion, not only for Ryan, but for the staff, the fans and the players as well because they know that we've underachieved as a club this year.
Wenger fears for ‘future’ managers
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he feared for the future of his trade in England after Moyes was sacked by struggling United.
Wenger, now the Premier League's longest-serving manager after taking charge of north London side Arsenal in 1996, said the high attrition rate among managers in England would ultimately be detrimental to the standard of coaching.
"If you want quality people in any job,” said Wenger. “You need to give them time to develop and to become good, or people with the quality will not come into our job anymore.”