Carrick lauds evergreen Giggs

At 39, Giggs has now won an incredible 13 league titles following last night's championship-clinching 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

To put it into context, the veteran Welshman has now won as many as Arsenal have in their entire history.

It is a quite phenomenal achievement, and Giggs is not finished yet given he has already signed a one-year contract extension that will keep him at United beyond his 40th birthday.

Carrick said: "I keep talking about him but what else is there left to say?

"It is sensational that he is still able to do that after all this time.

"It is not just physical, it is mental, having the drive and desire to do it every day.

"The league wasn't won tonight, it was won all season with all the work we have put in.

"Ryan is out there training every day. The standard he has set is unbelievable.

"He is a legend. It is a throwaway comment too often. But he is the legend really. It is a pleasure to play with him and work with him every day."

Giggs completed the full 90 minutes last night, his 28th appearance of the season.

Yet even he would accept he must cede top billing to Robin van Persie, whose second United hat-trick ensured the Red Devils were never going to be troubled gaining the three points required to snatch the trophy back off Manchester City.

And his contribution - which took him on to 24 Premier League goals for the season, one more than chief Golden Boot rival Luis Suarez, whose season is almost certainly at an end - included a brilliant second, which Carrick believes is a contender for goal of the season.

Van Persie followed Wayne Rooney's 40-yard pass, watching it drop 20 yards from goal before drilling a magnificent volley straight past Brad Guzan.

"It has to be right up there," said Carrick.

"The movement for starters, then Wayne to pick him out with a great pass. The finish was textbook.

"There are not many people who can do that.

"Robin has had a terrific season. It is his first one here and if he carries on like this he will have a good career, that's for certain."