Ryan Giggs compares Mason Greenwood to Premier League great

August 30, 2019
Posted by Steven Tan | Source from Manchester Evening News
Former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs believes the hype surrounding teenager Mason Greenwood is justified.
 
The 17-year-old has come on as a substitute in each of United's three Premier League games so far this season having enjoyed a superb 2018-19 campaign at youth level.
 
And Giggs is a big fan of the youngster, who reminds him of ex-Reds striker Robin van Persie.
 
"I think you can get excited about his talent," Giggs told the BBC. "You never know when players step up to the first team how long it will take them to get used to being at a big club.
 
"He’s talented. I’ve seen a lot of him. Both feet. He actually looks and moves like Robin van Persie. He’s a talent. It will help if he’s coming into a team that’s scoring goals. That always helps if you’re a young player coming into the first team.”
 
Giggs added that he was impressed with the signings United made during the transfer window and believes the team is on the right path under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
 
“I was pleased with the signings," Giggs said. "I like the direction that Ole’s going in, young, hungry players who want to play for the club and I think all three signings have settled in well.
 
“Chelsea were the better team early on but United, with that pace that they’ve got, must be one of the quickest sides ever really with Daniel James, Martial and Rashford as well.
 
“Against Wolves as well, with that speed, the way that they got the ball back after they lost it was really impressive. It was just a shame that they couldn’t hold on for the 90 minutes."
 
Commenting on the amount of players that have left United this summer, with Ander Herrera, Antonio Valencia, Marouane Fellaini, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku all having left, and Chris Smalling and Matteo Darmian also on the way, Giggs added: “What Ole’s trying to do is change the culture and when you’ve got players of that stature and they’re not getting in the team, then that can affect you during the week.
 
"They’re quality players but they’re not involved.
 
“What Ole is doing is trying to get it really competitive. Not really bothered about big numbers, and just get small numbers because that’s people have got to think about - in training during the week, it’s not just in games.
 
“He has to be lucky with injuries because if you do get a few injuries with the front players, he may struggle but he’s looked at the young players that are coming through, the Chongs, the Mason Greenwoods. Perhaps we’ll see a lot more of them this year.”
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