Giggs braced for Camp Nou return

Ryan Giggs was part of the Manchester United FC side that beat FC Bayern München in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final at the Camp Nou. Nine years on he returns to the scene of that famous triumph looking to help his team overcome FC Barcelona and reach the showpiece again. The 34-year-old recently passed his century of appearances in the competition, but as he reveals here, the prospect of playing on the biggest stage in Europe means more to him than ever.

Barcelona v Manchester United, semi-final of the UEFA Champions League – that's about as good as it gets, isn't it?

Ryan Giggs: Yes it is. Two great clubs, great histories and at an important part of the season. They're the games you want to be involved in.

Will you have fond memories of going back to the Camp Nou or does that sort of thing not affect you?

Giggs: I don't think it will play a part, really, in going back to Barcelona. It's another game, it's nine years on. But when you've had good experiences at stadiums you want to relive them and hopefully we'll do that at Barcelona.

It's the way the two teams play that makes it so mouthwatering ...

Giggs: All our basis is playing football on the floor with exciting players, attacking teams, scoring goals, and both teams try and do that. I think that was shown the last time the two teams met [in the group stage in 1998/99]. At Old Trafford it was 3-3, at the Nou Camp it was 3-3. That's the way the teams play and I'm sure it will be the same again: attacking football, lots of goals.

What are your memories of those two games?

Giggs: I didn't play in the game in the Nou Camp but I played in the game at Old Trafford and it was just a great game to be involved in. It had a bit of everything, and it was the year we won the Champions League so it was a bit like the season, a bit of a roller coaster really.

Manchester United were just establishing themselves in the competition back them. Does it feel a bit different now because you are probably tournament favourites?
 
Giggs: Yes, it probably does feel a little bit different. Like you say, we are a lot of people's favourites and we've got to deal with that pressure. Because of the way we've performed in the Champions League and in the league, we're everyone's favourites, whereas Barcelona probably haven't been as successful in their league. Still, it's Barcelona. It's going to be a tough game for both teams because there's a lot of quality on show so we're going to have to handle that a bit differently. We don't really look if we're favourites or underdogs, we just know we're capable of going there and getting a result.

Does it still feel the same to you as when you were 17 or 18 and turning out for United?

Giggs: For me it will be even better, because coming to the end of my career you might not get more nights like this so you've got to make the most of it and enjoy it. At 18 or 19 you think maybe these days are going to come again so you're probably a little bit more blasé about it, but as you get older you appreciate a little bit more these games and what they mean and enjoy it.

Why have Barcelona struggled to find their very best form this season?

Giggs: I think they are obviously still a very, very good team. They are in the Champions League semi-final. I think over the last two years they have set standards that maybe they have not kept this season but we're not taking anything for granted. They are a top team with players like Henry, Messi, Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Iniesta – players that will walk into any team in the world – so we've got to make sure we take care of them and do them a bit of damage with the players we've got.

Is there anything United need to improve on, or are you the finished article as a team?

Giggs: No, we're not the finished article but what we've done this season is bettered our defence which was already, I think, the best in the league. We've improved in that department and we create a lot of chances. Perhaps we don't score as many as we should, but you start worrying when you're not creating chances and you just hope the players come along and put them away.

This interview appears in the latest edition of Champions League Weekly, the official television programme of the UEFA Champions League.