Ryan Giggs’ Man Utd: from grimacing to smiling

Hosting his first news conference since his appointment on Tuesday, Giggs spoke of his “shock” when he was told that Moyes had been sacked, but said managing Man Utd was “a proud moment for me… and it’s one I will enjoy”.

Explaining what he wanted to achieve as player manager in the four remaining games of the season, the club’s most decorated footballer said: “I want to bring back some smiles on the faces of the fans.”

Frustrating

The 40-year-old described Man Utd’s season as “frustrating”, but joked that he had awarded himself a new five-year contract.

Paying tribute to David Moyes, who was sacked after a 10-month run of poor results, Giggs thanked the former manager for “giving me my first chance in coaching”.

He said: “It was something I’ll always remember when he rang me in the summer and asked me to come on board. Obviously I was still playing but he’s given me my first opportunity of a coaching role.”

Ryan Giggs said his week had been “a bit of a whirlwind” and “chaotic” and described the moment he was told by Man Utd Executive Vice-Chairman Ed Woodward that Moyes had been dismissed.

Shock

“It has been a difficult week for the club and it was a shock to me on Tuesday when I spoke to Ed and he informed me David was leaving and then asked me to take over.”

Manchester United won the Premier League last season, but are currently in seventh place, 23 points behind leaders and north west rivals Liverpool and with no prospect of playing Champions League football in 2014-15.

Giggs said: “It’s been a frustrating season for everyone. We win together and lose together and in these remaining four games, I want to bring the positivity back.

Passion

“We have three home games at Old Trafford, where the home form hasn’t been great, and I want to see goals, tackles, players taking players on and getting the crowd up. I want the passion that should come with being a Manchester United player.”

Giggs came through the youth ranks at Old Trafford and was part of the famed “class of ’92” that thrived under veteran manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who picked Moyes as his successor.

He is not being considered by the United board as a permanent replacement for Moyes. High-profile managers in the frame include Holland’s Louis van Gaal and Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti.

But former Reds captain Steve Bruce said if Giggs’ United “win the next three or four games 4-0, there’ll be a clamour for Ryan”.