Interim Manchester United boss Ryan Giggs admits Louis van Gaal is a coach of ‘fantastic pedigree’

INTERIM Manchester United boss Ryan Giggs says Louis van Gaal is a manager of “fantastic pedigree”, but will the club legend be part of his staff?

A second week in the spotlight for Ryan Giggs and a second week of questions about another manager.

Last time round at Carrington he nimbly dodged questions about the departure of David Moyes, now the focus has moved onto Manchester United’s succession planning with Louis Van Gaal the overwelming favourite to jump into the Old Trafford hotseat and although Giggs is perhaps his closest rival he’s well aware of the Dutchman’s credentials.

Giggs said: “He’s got a brilliant reputation, successful manager in different countries and obviously he’s taken Holland to the World Cup. Yeah, he’s got a fantastic pedigree.”

So Giggs or Van Gaal or Van Gaal and Giggs? That’s the decision facing Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

The hearts of Manchester United fans seem to favour one of their own, a true club legend, assuming permanent control while their heads, perhaps, recognise Van Gaal’s experience and track record put him in pole position ahead of a tricky transfer window.

In the meantime it’s Giggs who’s making the decisions and putting pre-season plans in place. He may have played alongside Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra, now he’s answering questions about their futures at Old Trafford.

“It’s their decision,” he said. “Their contracts are up but they’ve both given massive service to the club.News_Rich_Media: Former Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich has backed Louis van Gaal as the right man to take over Manchester United next season.

“They’re both fit and they both looked good last week so I don’t see why not. I think they remain assets to a club like Manchester United.”

Last summer a number of factors combined to make it a disastrous transfer window for a club that had just won its 13th Premier League title.

Whatever the facts surrounding David Moyes’ first stint in football’s fast lane, Manchester United ended up with a single arrival in the dying moments, since then £27m-man Marouane Fellaini has made just 11 Premier League starts.

This summer, whoever’s chosen to pick up the reins from Moyes will have the club’s biggest ever transfer kitty at his disposal coupled with the pressure to sign the necessary players to restore Manchester United’s fortunes at home and abroad and Giggs is well aware of the challenge ahead.

He said: “Whether you’ve won a league and you’ve been successful or you’ve not been successful like this year you always look to strengthen and that will never change.

“If the players are out there you try to get them, if there are players that can improve you and take you forward, you try and get them.”

News_Rich_Media: Fox Sports European correspondent Daniel Garb says Louis Van Gaal's move to Manchester United is a done deal, with the Holland boss keen to finalise all contractual arrangements before the World Cup in Brazil.

Manchester United’s current squad will be remembered for breaking an 18-year cycle of continuous Champions League football and even the Europa League looks beyond them with just three games remaining.

At the other end of the East Lancs Road, Liverpool’s Premier League title tilt may have been aided by their absence from Europe this season but Ryan Giggs isn’t prepared to accept a similar fate as an advantage for the club’s next manager.

“I think Manchester United should be in Europe,” he said. “Obviously everyone wants to be in the Champions League but the next step is the Europa League and I think that Manchester United in a season should be in Europe.”

News_Rich_Media: There's two weeks to go and three teams still in the hunt for the Premier League title, and according to Fox Sports' Daniel Garb, it's time to sit back and enjoy the epicness that awaits football fans around the globe.

So what of Ryan Giggs the player? He’s clocked up a record 962 appearances in the red of Manchester United and won more honours than any player in the English game but like his first game against Norwich will opt for a suit not boots for the visit of Sunderland.

That leaves Tuesday night’s contest with Hull as his last chance to play at Old Trafford this season, so will he grace the turf at the Theatre of Dreams again or has he already played his match at the stadium?

News_Rich_Media: Fox Sports football expert Mark Bosnich previews the penultimate round of the Premier League.

He said: “It’s not something that I’ve really thought about, just have to wait and see. See how the team perform on Saturday and, like I say, see if I can get in.

“But my priority is winning the games and is it me playing that gives us the best chance? We’ll see.”

He was an unused substitute at the Stadium of Light back in October as Manchester United won 2-1 thanks to two goals from Adnan Januzaj and it’ll be a watching brief again for Ryan Giggs, but with very different pressures, as he looks to mastermind a performance that’ll stretch Sunderland’s winless streak at Old Trafford to 23 league games.

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