Giggs eager for quiet birthday

The Manchester United wide man has seemingly been building up to his big day for weeks now.

By Saturday, it will finally be over. And no-one will be more delighted than the man himself.

"It is obviously a milestone but I try not to think about it," he said.

"I don't know if the lads are planning anything - but I'm not going in just in case. I'm going to stay in bed.

"I'll be glad when it is over."

Giggs' achievements are the stuff of legend.

So impressive was his performance in Wednesday's 5-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen, one of the German side's defenders felt compelled to ask Wayne Rooney exactly how old his veteran team-mate was again.

Giggs' personal records will almost certainly never be beaten - he has, after all, won as many league titles as Arsenal have managed in their entire history.

But it all could have been so different had he opted to sever ties with the club where he made his name, as fellow 'Class of 92' members David Beckham, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville all did.

"If I'd moved from club to club I'd be finished by now," he said.

"I'm lucky that I have been at one club, where I am surrounded by good players. I also have a good manager.

"I look after myself and try to train every day in order to make myself available for selection.

"I enjoy it as much as I can, and, of course, try to contribute to the team."

The only time it appeared possible Giggs would leave was during the 2002-03 campaign when he was jeered by his own supporters, his contribution not helped by the repeated hamstring injuries he suffered.

There was talk of a big-money move to Italy and, although Giggs has stated before he was never made aware of any interest, it is fair to assume, if he had offered any encouragement, there would have been a lengthy queue for his services.

It did not take long for Giggs to emerge from his difficulties.

In that same 2002-03 season he scored a wonder goal against Juventus in Turin. He also started working those hamstrings with regular yoga sessions, now an accepted method of keeping in shape, but at the time unusual.

"I don't know what the younger lads think of me," he said.

"When I was 17 and 18 I thought 31 was ancient. Here I am at 40.

"It can be hard sometimes but I am still enjoying it.

"As long as that is the case I will carry on."

Source: PA

Source: PA