Experience vital to United's perfect blend

The spirit of 1999 lives on for Ryan Giggs in the old heads who are guiding Manchester United FC's pursuit of a third European crown.

Invaluable
Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tévez may catch the eye with their glittering attacking talent, but Giggs says the reserves of experience within United's squad are just as priceless. Without mining that rich seam of knowledge, Sir Alex Ferguson would be unable to fire a challenge for glory which culminates in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea FC.

Mutual benefit
"The enthusiasm the young players have shown this season has been great for the likes of me," said Giggs, "and with the older players vice versa – the experience we give to the younger players who maybe haven't been in certain positions they've found themselves in this year." Giggs, alongside Paul Scholes, Wes Brown and Gary Neville, is one of four survivors of United's triumphant 1999 campaign still at Old Trafford today. Now aged 34, he acted as a trusted lieutenant of Sir Alex when the pair faced the press at the Carrington training ground on Thursday.

'Team spirit'
Surveying the respective qualities of the two United squads to have gone all the way to the final during the last decade, he said: "There are similarities – team spirit, which you can never go without. There was a great team spirit, a good balance of experienced and young players. We had a great squad in '99 and that was used during the season – it is similar this year, it is not about eleven players, so there are similarities.

Difficult journey
"It was tough in '99," added the midfielder, who has made eight European outings this time around. "We played Barcelona, Juventus when they were such a good team, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan. It was tough to win it then. It is a tough competition to win because you have to be so consistent and also physically and mentally strong all the way through. If you get to the final you deserve it because it is so tough."

Record
Giggs also knows how to finish a season with a flourish. Such has been his silver streak with United that last Sunday's win at Wigan Athletic FC secured his tenth Premier League title. He also scored the clinching goal on the day he equalled Sir Bobby Charlton's club record of 758 appearances. "It was special for me to come on and score, and to equal Sir Bobby's record," the Welshman said. "It was a great day and to lift the Premiership as well, it couldn't have gone any better. I've said before it is not about individuals, it is about the team, but I did enjoy the day. Now you move on and look forward to hopefully another great night. We're looking forward to it and we'll be ready for it."

Defeat
United may have an extra spring in their step entering the Luzhniki Stadium, but Chelsea were the last side to beat them, at Stamford Bridge on 26 April. "It wasn't a nice feeling," Giggs admitted. "The first half Chelsea were the better team, they created chances and we didn't. But we ended the game quite positive because we played well in the second half. Chelsea are big, strong, and hard to play against because they are so strong defensively. Equally, we are very good going forward but defensively strong as well. I don't know if you are going to get an open game, but we'll go out and try to score goals like always."