Ryan Giggs helping United's Reserves

November 15, 2017
Posted by Steven Tan | Source from Adam Marshall, ManUtd.com
Ryan Giggs has been helping Manchester United's Reserves side prepare for their Premier League International Cup games.
 
The Reds began their Group D campaign with a 2-1 victory over Swansea City and Giggs has been passing on his wealth of knowledge to Ricky Sbragia's youngsters in an attempt to steel them for the task ahead.
 
James Wilson, who was handed his senior debut by Giggs during his interim spell in charge of the Reds against Hull City in 2014, scored both goals in the success against the Swans but less familiar opponents will follow in Athletic Club and Celtic.
 
The intriguing contest with Bilbao outfit Athletic is to be screened live by MUTV on Wednesday, with the anglo-Scottish battle against the Bhoys scheduled for Saturday 2 December.
 
Last season, the Reds topped a group containing Middlesbrough, Sparta Prague and Villarreal in the first phase of the competition, only to lose to the eventual winners FC Porto in the knockout stages.
 
"We had Giggsy in last week talking about the Premier League International Cup," revealed Joe Riley to MUTV. "Obviously, we're going to play teams from afar. The preparation might be different and the play might be different.
 
"Preparation is a part of that with the way the lads get up for the games and the way we deal with things in the match, it may be tactical or it may be physical. We've got to prepare for whatever is coming our way really."
 
Callum Gribbin also discussed the words of encouragement from the Old Trafford great. "Ryan came in a couple of weeks ago and told us what he'd won at the club and reminded us about European football and stuff like that, which was good," said Gribbin. "To have a person like that [do it] - what a player he was and what a career he had here. So you've always got to listen to players like that."
 
Meanwhile, DJ Buffonge has also spoken of the assistance he continues to receive from Giggs as he looks to make his mark at Under-23 level.
 
"I was starstruck at first when I saw the players and coaches," he said. "The likes of Nicky Butt and, when I first came here, Ryan Giggs. He was very supportive and kind to me. He gave me good advice. I definitely feel like I can see Butty or Giggsy around the club and could still go to them for advice.
 
"Even though Ryan is not actually here coaching now, I know he would still give me time and help me."
 
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