Manchester United began their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw at Benfica, and it was a very familiar name on the score sheet.
Benfica took the lead through Paraguay international striker Oscar Cardozo, but the legendary Ryan Giggs struck just before half-time to earn a point for the Red Devil’s.
Much of the attention on United’s awesome start to the season has been focused on the ‘new breed’ at Old Trafford that is rife with young and exciting talent.
Young defenders Phil Jones and Jonny Evans have played well in front of 20 year-old goalkeeper David De Gea. In midfield Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley have produced a vibrant and attacking brand of football that is complimenting a lethal attack.
At the spearhead of United’s lineup, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez are firing in the goals, with Rooney a relative greybeard at the age of 25.
Many fans will insist that the young breed play every single game of the season but that is not how top level football works these days. United have the possibility of playing over 60 games this season, and the team will need to be rotated.
Last night in Portugal, many players demonstrated to Sir Alex Ferguson that he has the depth to rotate and keep players fresh as the season goes on.
Anders Lindegaard performed so well in goal United could end up with a real battle for the number 1 jersey down the line, while Jonny Evans and Fabio Da Silva showed United have options in defense on top of the injured duo of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
In midfield Antonio Valencia reminded everyone that United have an exciting winger not named Ashley Young or Nani, when he set up Giggs foe the United goal.
As for Giggs, he scored the equalizer and set yet another all-time record to add to his glittering resume. Not only did Giggs yet again break his own record as the oldest player to score in the UEFA Champions League, he has now scored in each of the last 22 seasons, the only active player to do so in European football.
Giggs began his career as a flying winger, and has showed the versatility and ability to operate in a central playmaking role to extend his career and continue to make an impact.
In his later years, Giggs has also showed the humility and team mentality to not play every game and still make an impact.
Giggs has made more competitive appearances than any other player in United history, he has also won 12 Premier League Titles, four FA Cup title’s, three League Cup’s and two UEFA Champions League winners medals.
As a comparison, the great Sir Bobby Charlton won three Premier League title’s, one FA Cup and one European Cup.
Giggs showed last night he will contribute to the United cause for yet another season, and when it is all said and done he could go down in history as the greatest player to ever wear the United shirt.
Much of the attention on United’s awesome start to the season has been focused on the ‘new breed’ at Old Trafford that is rife with young and exciting talent.
Young defenders Phil Jones and Jonny Evans have played well in front of 20 year-old goalkeeper David De Gea. In midfield Ashley Young and Tom Cleverley have produced a vibrant and attacking brand of football that is complimenting a lethal attack.
At the spearhead of United’s lineup, Wayne Rooney, Danny Welbeck and Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez are firing in the goals, with Rooney a relative greybeard at the age of 25.
Many fans will insist that the young breed play every single game of the season but that is not how top level football works these days. United have the possibility of playing over 60 games this season, and the team will need to be rotated.
Last night in Portugal, many players demonstrated to Sir Alex Ferguson that he has the depth to rotate and keep players fresh as the season goes on.
Anders Lindegaard performed so well in goal United could end up with a real battle for the number 1 jersey down the line, while Jonny Evans and Fabio Da Silva showed United have options in defense on top of the injured duo of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic.
In midfield Antonio Valencia reminded everyone that United have an exciting winger not named Ashley Young or Nani, when he set up Giggs foe the United goal.
As for Giggs, he scored the equalizer and set yet another all-time record to add to his glittering resume. Not only did Giggs yet again break his own record as the oldest player to score in the UEFA Champions League, he has now scored in each of the last 22 seasons, the only active player to do so in European football.
Giggs began his career as a flying winger, and has showed the versatility and ability to operate in a central playmaking role to extend his career and continue to make an impact.
In his later years, Giggs has also showed the humility and team mentality to not play every game and still make an impact.
Giggs has made more competitive appearances than any other player in United history, he has also won 12 Premier League Titles, four FA Cup title’s, three League Cup’s and two UEFA Champions League winners medals.
As a comparison, the great Sir Bobby Charlton won three Premier League title’s, one FA Cup and one European Cup.
Giggs showed last night he will contribute to the United cause for yet another season, and when it is all said and done he could go down in history as the greatest player to ever wear the United shirt.
