Source: Daily_Mail
New deal Ryan Giggs looks ahead to more trophies with Manchester United
Staying power: Manchester United's Ryan Giggs[LNB]Manchester United rewarded Ryan Giggs's staying power by handing the veteran midfielder a new contract yesterday as Sir Alex Ferguson defended Mick McCarthy's controversial decision to give 10 of his Wolves players a rest during Tuesday's game at Old Trafford. [LNB]A week that began with Giggs being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year ended with the 36-year-old Welshman signing a contract extension that will keep him at United until June 2011. [LNB]And Ferguson believes that Giggs, who has played 822 games for United on the way to winning 11 Premier League titles and two European Cups, can go on even longer. [LNB]'Ryan deserves a new contract and I'm sure that he will play for another two years,' said the United boss. 'His form is fantastic at the moment and he's playing some of his best football.' [LNB]WHY HE'S WORTH IT11 Premier League titles [LNB]536 Premier League appearances [LNB]100 Premier League goals [LNB]2 Premier League goals already this season - the same amount as the whole of the last campaign [LNB]44 chances created by Giggs this campaign, the third highest in the division [LNB]136 crosses put in by the Welshman. Only Andy Reid and Ashley Young have managed more [LNB]0 times Giggs has been sent off in the Premier League[LNB]9 assists this season. He is only second to Cesc Fabregas [LNB]Giggs has again defied his age to play a key role this season, captaining United in the absence of injured skipper Rio Ferdinand. 'I'm delighted that I have agreed one more year,' he said. 'I'm enjoying my football more than ever and I'm looking forward to hopefully winning more trophies with United.' [LNB]Ferguson used Giggs as an example yesterday as he underlined the demands of the modern game and explained why he thought Wolves boss McCarthy was justified in making so many changes when his side faced United. [LNB]The Premier League have written to McCarthy asking him to explain his actions, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has accused him of damaging the credibility of the competition. [LNB] Injury crisis: United boss Sir Alex Ferguson (right) could be without eight senior defenders for Saturday's match with Fulham in the Premier League [LNB]But Ferguson said: 'Mick McCarthy did the right thing for Wolverhampton FC. [LNB]'We thought he would make six changes. I looked at their performance and the amount of running they had to do on Saturday at Tottenham and I thought to myself that five or six of those players would not play at Old Trafford. We didn't expect 10 of course. But they have to go down to London, come up to Manchester and then play Burnley this weekend.[LNB] 'The Wolves side who played on Tuesday worked their socks off, and to my mind there was no real discernible difference in the Wolves team we could have played to the one that we did play.[LNB] [LNB]Defence: Ferguson said Mick McCarthy was justified in making so many team changes at Old Trafford [LNB]'The speed of the game has changed. If you look at Bobby Charlton playing 759 games for Manchester United when there were no substitutes and then look at Ryan Giggs reaching 800 and something, Ryan has benefited from being a substitute 120 times.[LNB] 'There are more games now than there was in Bobby's day. Sports science has also improved players' ability to last longer and cope with injuries better.' [LNB]That would not seem to be the case judging by United's current injury list, however. [LNB]Ferguson could again be without eight senior defenders for today's trip to Fulham if Nemanja Vidic fails a fitness test, and the manager revealed that first-choice goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has flown home to see the Holland team doctor over a knee injury that will keep him out for at least another two weeks. [LNB]'Van der Sar is unbelievable and you miss the experience and composure that he brings,' added Ferguson. 'But on the positive side, Tomasz Kuszczak has been fantastic. He hasn't let us down at all.' [LNB] Ferguson's side were beaten 2-0 at Craven Cottage last season, and he is wary of history repeating itself this afternoon as United try to keep pace with Chelsea at the top of the Barclays Premier League table.[LNB] 'It has been a remarkable turnaround since Roy Hodgson has been there. There's no question he rescued Fulham,' said the United manager. [LNB] Italian job: United must beat Milan for the first time over two legs in EuropeVIDEO: Losing Champions League was better than winning it, says FergieALL THE WEEKEND BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWS MANCHESTER UNITED FC
