Ryan Giggs Europa League dream

Ryan Giggs starts the hunt for some missing silverware tomorrow night.

And he insisted: I want a Europa League medal in my trophy cabinet.

The veteran Welshman is in line to make his 900th Manchester United appearance at Ajax.

There is a sense of anti-climax about the tournament around Old Trafford, as Alex Ferguson's men had previously got to three Champions League finals in four years.

Yet Giggs, 38, has urged his team-mates to give Europe's second competition their best shot as they enter the last 32.

The most decorated player in English football admitted as he prepared to reach another milestone: "It would be great to win, as it is something I've never won.

"It was disappointing to go out of the Champions League.

"But there is nothing we can do about it. So now let's go and win the Europa League."

Giggs has been a Champions League winner twice and also been a runner-up on two other occasions. So failing to come through a friendly-looking group this season was a bitter disappointment.

He added: "I've played so many games in the Champions League and been fortunate to play in four finals.

"But the simple fact is we weren't good enough this time. In the past, we have been good enough. So we're not going to moan about it. We just have to get on and try to win this competition."

The former Wales international is set to pass yet another notable landmark in his amazing career.

He already holds United's record for appearances and believes his move to centre midfield means he can go on for a while yet.

Giggs declared: "Not many players get to 900 games, so to play at United for that amount of time and for that number of matches is something to be proud of.

"I remember being on holiday about six years ago and somebody came up to me and said I'd beat Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record.

"I was about 100 games away at the time, so I just replied 'No chance!'

"But I passed that and since then I've gone past 800 and now I'm at 900, which is fantastic.

"Moving into central midfield has definitely helped me. When I played on the wing, I would feel absolutely knackered after games. I obviously still come off tired after games now but not as tired as I used to be when I was a winger."

Giggs has just agreed a new one-year contract that will take him into a 22nd season.

He was superb in last Saturday's 2-1 victory over Liverpool and the yoga fan's continued super-fitness, especially after some worrying hamstring problems earlier in his time at United, has team-mate Rio Ferdinand lost in admiration.England star Ferdinand said: "He has been blessed with a tremendous physique.

"He is not carrying any weight, he has not had any serious injuries and he manages himself really well.

"To have made that many appearances at one club is phenomenal. There is no reduction in his talent. He is still one of the better players in training. And in games he's one of the best too. He can play on both sides of the pitch and in midfield.

"That tells you he is not getting in because of who he is or what he has done. He's getting in the team on merit."

Ferdinand even used to have a video of Giggs when he was at school.

He added: "I had videos of Giggs versus John Barnes and George Best versus Diego Maradona. I used to watch them all the time."