Evra astonished by Giggs

Patrice Evra has voiced his admiration for veteran Manchester United team-mate Ryan Giggs after his impressive display against Schalke.

The 37-year-old was a star performer in the first leg of United's UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night, finding the opener in their 2-0 victory at the Veltins Arena.

And French defender Evra, who is eight years Giggs' junior, feels the work-rate and speed of the Welshman, as well as the influence he continues to have on the pitch, is remarkable.

He joked to Canal+ after the semi-final triumph in Germany: "Giggs? He must stop talking about his yoga!

"He says it makes him run faster. I will have to sign up immediately!

"He is 37 years old and he runs more than almost everyone else on the pitch, and he is decisive. What can I say!"

Tuesday night's clash was locked at 0-0 at half-time, with Schalke's star goalkeeper Manuel Neuer denying the visitors with a string of notable saves.

Evra says he and his team-mates knew something had to change in the dressing room at the break, adding: "At half-time we were really upset.

"We can't get so many opportunities and reach half-time at 0-0.

"We told ourselves if we went on that way we would finally lose the match."

The full-back admits he was disappointed United could not secure a more emphatic scoreline heading into the second leg at Old Trafford next week.

"In the second half we had fewer opportunities but we scored twice," he added.

"We could have scored three, four or six goals.

"But we played away from home, in a Champions League semi-final and it was difficult. So we got what we could get."