
Manchester U 3 Benfica 1PERISH the thought that Ryan Giggs the footballer will one day become extinct.
Manager Alex Ferguson left Giggs out of his squad which beat Everton last week saying “you have to protect the older species.”
But, at 33, Giggs is no dinosaur yet. He still has the appetite for the big occasion and last night rescued United from Champions League embarrassment and drove them into the last 16 as Group F winners.
United were heading out of the competition after going behind to NelsonÂ’s stunning strike.
But Giggs laid on the equaliser for Nemanja Vidic and then scored the goal which put United in command before Louis Saha finished Benfica off.
The veteran wideman was ably assisted by the young buck Cristiano Ronaldo, exactly a year after United were knocked out of Europe by Benfica in Lisbon.
This was sweet revenge for the Portuguese star. Ronaldo twisted and tormented his opponents and played a part in all three United goals.
Ronaldo is simply unstoppable when he is in the mood.
Darren Fletcher came on as replacement and, after Ronaldo won a corner, it was FletcherÂ’s kick which picked out Saha to dispatch UnitedÂ’s third headed goal of the night.
Manager Alex Ferguson had groaned in the pre-match build-up about how United take a perverse pleasure in making life difficult for themselves.
That argument is for another day because after the trials and tribulations of the first half this turned out to be a job well done.
Mind you it is not all good news. Finishing top means United could get Barcelona, Real Madrid or Inter Milan next.
Still, if you are going to win the Champions League you cannot avoid the big guns for ever. Might as well get them out of the way early.