Team of '94: Ryan Giggs

ManUtd.com continue feature on Manchester United's first Double winners, the classic squad of 1993/1994, by taking a look at Ryan Giggs...

Overall contribution The poster boy of British football was having to come to terms with the media glare despite being carefully protected by Alex Ferguson. Inevitably, he had dips in form that led to harsh criticism but was a key figure throughout the season. Only Eric Cantona scored more than his 13 league goals and he assisted many more, playing with the sort of panache that was already marking him out as a firm fans' favourite.

Best performance In the match against Everton when Sir Matt Busby was honoured shortly after his death, it was fitting that Giggs, who would have been at home alongside the Babes, took centre stage. Not only did he score the winner but he was a major influence in piling the pressure on Neville Southall's net. The Independent on Sunday wrote: "If the crowd will never forget the occasion, probably Giggs will never forget the match. Not only did he decide its outcome, he confirmed totally that he is a truly exceptional footballer by the standards of any era."

Key moment In contrast, the press were sniping about Giggs' form when he came off the bench at Maine Road after only being named as a substitute for the Manchester derby. Soon into his stride, with one killer pass that sliced through the defence, he teed up Eric Cantona within two minutes of replacing Paul Ince. It was a magical piece of skill and vision by the Welshman, who was always feared most for his speed and balance.

What he said "The thing is I know I’ve still got a lot to learn. The manager is always pointing things out to me that I should or shouldn’t be doing and I don’t feel happy with myself unless I’m learning something new at every training session." 

What others said ''He has such a wonderful attitude. Such desire to realise the greatness within him. At the moment, he reminds me of a lad who knows all those card tricks but has still to learn how to play cards.'' - Alex Ferguson.

Just the stats The precocious youngster made 49 starts and came off the bench eight times as the manager gave him the occasional breather. A tally of 17 goals was very impressive, 13 coming in the league, and he was a regular on the left flank.

Trivia Giggs famously had the largest mailbag at the club with thousands of Valentine's Day cards being received from adoring female followers. 

What happened next? It defies belief that the legendary one-club man is still going strong and remains a key part of the first-team squad. The most decorated footballer in British history continues to rewrite the record books on a regular basis.