Ryan Giggs has warned Manchester United's Carling Cup rookies they must show greater backbone if they are to succeed at Old Trafford.
Holders United surrendered their place in the competition with a 4-0 quarter-final drubbing by West Ham, their worst defeat for nine years and their first loss of the season. A young side containing players such as Bebe, Chris Smalling and Javier Hernandez was swept aside as the Hammers defied arctic conditions at Upton Park to produce a sizzling display.
"Maybe heads can drop and the first goal came at a good time for West Ham," said Giggs. "Obviously we started the second half really well, but they scored from their first attack and maybe heads dropped. But you are at Manchester United and you need to rise above that. You still need to carry on playing your football and not let your heads drop."
Giggs admits United paid the price for some feeble defending that saw Jonathan Spector score the first goals of his six seasons in English football against his former club.
England marksman Carlton Cole was on target twice after half-time, while the brilliant Victor Obinna set up all four strikes.
"It was disappointing to lose 4-0. We were confident that we could win the game and it was not to be," said Giggs.
"West Ham played well and you need to give some credit to them as they scored some good goals. But we feel that we could have defended the goals a lot better and it could all have been different had the first shot from Gabriel Obertan gone in.
"We started the game pretty well but Gabriel's effort did not fall for us.
"Instead it hit the post and they scored quickly after that.
"That probably knocked the stuffing out of us. Like I say, we could have done better for the goals."
Source: PA
