Giggs: 'This can be the best United ever'

United's favourite old son is revelling in a new central role - and is convinced Ferguson's latest creation could surpass previous generations Spring is in the air and in everyone's step around Old Trafford, most notably in that of the oldest of the old boys. Once Chelsea's new money took over from Arsenal's aristocrats, Sir Alex Ferguson and Ryan Giggs must privately have wondered whether their handsome medal collection was complete; but after today's home game with West Ham the Premiership trophy will be handed back to Manchester United, and on Saturday the chance exists to complete a fourth Double. Giggs, like Ferguson, appears to have been given a new lease of life by the emergence of this young United side and there is something touching about his obvious excitement at the prospect of walking out at Wembley again. Winning the Cup would be Giggs's 17th major honour, eclipsing Liverpool's Phil Neal as the English game's most decorated player, and at 33 he is entitled to adopt an air of having seen it all before. Instead, a boyish enthusiasm shines through, undiminished by life as an elder statesman and father of two in his £5 million Victorian pile: "For me personally it was great to play in Cardiff, but as far as I'm concerned the FA Cup final should be played at Wembley. It looks very good on the television and we're just excited to be back. It gave us an extra incentive, because you want to be at the first Cup final at Wembley, you don't want to miss out and be sat at home watching on TV thinking, 'We could be there'. That's where it belongs, and you want to be part of it." In Giggs's case it will be a seventh Cup final, the previous half-dozen having produced four wins and two defeats. And in the beginning, at Wembley 1994, there was Chelsea, albeit a very different outfit under Glenn Hoddle to the force United will face this week: "Winning the first one [4-0] was obviously a good memory, it was a Double-winning season, one of the few occasions it rained, which I was quite happy with because I didn't particularly like playing at Wembley. "It was sticky and dry and for someone who likes to dribble it was always tough, the grass was so lush. Actually I think Chelsea beat us twice in the League that season. They hit the crossbar and they were the better team in the first half, but then we got the first goal and deserved to win in the end. I hope it's 4-0 again but I don't think it will be! In '95 we got beat by Everton, which was disappointing, but one of the most memorable FA Cups was probably Liverpool the next year, beating our biggest rivals, great memories of that game." If neutrals were less enamoured by that desperately dour encounter, Giggs provided them with a genuinely iconic Cup moment en route to his next final in 1999. In a thrilling semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa Park, he scored one of the great individual goals with that slalom through the defence, rounded off by a slashing shot and hairy-chested, shirt-waving celebration. Victory over Newcastle at Wembley completed another Double but Cardiff, while home from home, provided mixed memories, with a routine win over Millwall and an undeserved defeat on penalties after dominating Arsenal the following year. For a while he could not be sure of a starting place, and on one occasion was even jeered by United supporters when substituted against Blackburn. Yet the kids who threatened his place have now helped his rejuvenation and reinvention as a central midfielder. "Certain players give you a new lease of life," he says. "You get a buzz from watching them play, and in the last couple of days I've got a real buzz out of seeing the faces of the lads who've won their first championship. "I remember when I won my first championship, it's the best feeling in the world, and to get that buzz and see their faces, how they're so happy to have done it, that's definitely been a factor in enjoying my football a little bit more this season. Seeing the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo and the performances of Fletcher and Sheasy [O'Shea] gives you a lift, because there's real quality in the team and it's great to see." With Ronaldo and often Rooney out wide, Giggs and Paul Scholes have brought their experience to bear in a more central role that he feels could help prolong his career further; perhaps even beyond the contract that expires at the end of next season. He needs 46 more appearances to overhaul Sir Bobby Charlton's club record of 759 and Ferguson believes he can play for at least two more years. "I've enjoyed playing in a central role, you're involved a lot more than on the wing, where you're reliant on people giving you the ball. Even when I play on the wing I'm not playing like I did 10 years ago anyway. You use your experience and positional sense and just try to be clever. You aren't going to be as quick at 33 as you were at 17 but you are maybe a bit quicker in the brain and have that experience as well." As to Saturday's task, and in particular the contrast in the two teams' styles: "I've got to be careful what I say! We're a bit more cavalier whereas Chelsea are a bit more patient, European in a way, how they pack the midfield, try to get possession of the ball. They've got that defensive base and platform but also players who can go out and win games. We probably play a little bit differently, with wide men and players who can score from anywhere, that's the way United have always played." He is clearly proud to have been a part of that tradition ever since his 14th birthday, the day on which Ferguson arrived in person on his doorstep to secure a coveted signature. Now he goes as far as to say that the manager's latest creation could become his best: "Potentially this team can be the best definitely, because of the quality and age of the team. So many players are at the start of their career or are starting to hit their peak and we genuinely have world-class players. There's real quality in the squad, and depth. Obviously, you need things to go right for you injury-wise, but potentially this side can be consistently good over the next five or six years." He does acknowledge, however, that to be universally acclaimed as the best United side of modern times would necessitate securing another European crown at least: "It's always something you want to achieve. You always want to win the Premiership, then after that it's the Champions' League. You can't really prioritise, but this season the target was to win the Premiership, then the next step is the Champions' League. We deserved the Premiership this year, we played great football but have been consistent and had that bit of steel as well. Now can we go on and win it again? I'm sure we can, because we've got the ability and the hunger." Although Giggs is not big on personal milestones, a 10th championship would assuredly have a certain ring - as well as almost certainly never being beaten. In the meantime, he has regained a place in both the team and supporters' hearts that was briefly - and inexplicably - lost. The Record-Breaker: The public life of Private Ryan Long-Service Awards In addition to his record haul of nine League titles, eclipsing the eight won by Alan Hansen and Phil Neal, Giggs holds the record for trophies won by a player; he has earned four FA Cup and two League Cup medals and a Champions' League medal to sit alongside those League souvenirs, plus has finished runner-up in the Premiership four times, the FA Cup twice and League Cup twice. Brothers United In Triumph Ryan isn't the only Giggs to play on the wing for United and win a title this season; his younger brother Rhodri turns out on the right (and sometimes as a striker) for FC United of Man-chester, the club set up by fans opposed to the Glazers' takeover at Old Trafford. This season they are First Division champions of the North West Counties League, having won the Second Division last year. Major Disappointment Giggs won his 62nd cap for Wales in the 3-0 win against San Marino in March, but has yet to play in a major championship. The enduring myth that he could have elected to play for England stems from his appearances for England Schoolboys, but that was open to anyone being educated in the country. Giggs was born in Wales to Welsh parents (though his father, the rugby league player Danny Wilson, was originally from Sierra Leone) and would not have qualified to play for England. Fistful Of Firsts Giggs was the first to win the PFA Young Player of the Year Award twice (1992-93), a feat since emulated by Robbie Fowler and Wayne Rooney. He is the scorer of United's fastest goal, after 15 seconds against Southampton in November 1995, is the first player in Champions' League history to score in 12 successive seasons, and is one of only two players (the other is Gary Speed) to score in every Premiership season. Classic Remark From Homer Giggs is the only Premiership player to be mentioned in The Simpsons, in November 2003 when Homer, visiting England, says to Marge: "Can you believe they gave Giggs a yellow card?" Reference: independent.co.uk

Champions League 2006-2007: "No other team scores as many late goals as us"

With Manchester United it is never over until the fat lady has collapsed in a wheezing heap. "No other team scores as many late goals as us," Sir Alex Ferguson likes to boast, and whatever happens in the remainder of this season's Champions League there can be no doubting their current status as the most exciting team in Europe. "Fantastique Manchester United" was one headline in France yesterday as the world's press salivated over another exhilarating demonstration of attacking, one-touch, stylishly penetrative football. The accolades are richly deserved given the way Ferguson's players seem intent on obliterating the reputation of Italian defending but, amid the euphoria of Wayne Rooney's late and dramatic winner in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Milan, it should not be overlooked that the Rossoneri's players were also claiming a victory as they left Old Trafford. With two away goals, nothing can be taken for granted in the second leg. "I believe we are favourites," Kaka, Milan's sweetly gifted Brazilian, said in the bowels of the stadium, and the six-times winners will glean hope when they analyse United's record in this competition over the past few seasons, with only two wins in their past 13 away games. A draw would suffice for the Premiership leaders but Ferguson's team have lost at FC Copenhagen, Celtic and Roma this season and Milan have not dropped a point in a home game in Serie A since a scoreless draw against Torino on December 10. The news from Milan's training ground last night was good for Carlo Ancelotti and bad for Ferguson, namely that Paolo Maldini should be fit for the second leg, having lasted only 45 minutes on Tuesday, and that Gennaro Gattuso is fine despite his rather hammy departure on a stretcher. Rooney, it should be noted, did not peak until Maldini's withdrawal and even though Gattuso failed to exert his usual influence he is such an important player for Milan that the visitors suffered without him. Cristian Brocchi, his 52nd-minute replacement, was responsible for losing the ball to Ryan Giggs in the build-up to Rooney's second goal. Ferguson was again invigorated by his team's performance and sufficiently emboldened to talk of his players being in a "fantastic position". They will begin at San Siro as favourites but the word "marginal" should be applied and if that sounds pessimistic then refer to what Ferguson himself said after United lost the first leg of their quarter-final against Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. On that occasion he said the 2-1 deficit represented a "good result" because "the away goals are invaluable in these two-legged fixtures". The trick will be to prevent Milan from scoring and Ferguson will be without the injured Gary Neville and Nemanja Vidic plus the suspended Patrice Evra, although he clings to hope that Rio Ferdinand will have recovered from a groin strain even though the defender was originally ruled out until the visit to Chelsea on May 9. Gabriel Heinze is a feisty left-back but has not been the same player since rupturing knee ligaments 19 months ago and was partly culpable for both of Kaka's goals, outpaced for one and outmanoeuvred for the other. Those lapses may make it imperative for United's attacking players to take the game to Milan, searching for an away goal of their own, rather than being cagey. Despite United's reputation for going "goal crazy", as Kaka put it, Ferguson frequently tries a more defensive 4-5-1 formation on the club's European excursions. "We wanted to keep a clean sheet because away goals are key in this competition," observed the seasoned Giggs. "We didn't want to give away one goal, let alone two, so that has knocked the stuffing out of us a little bit. "We'll probably have to defend better in the away leg but we're capable of doing that. It's going to be difficult, as it always is in the San Siro, but we saw enough in the second half to show we can get a good result if we keep our character and nerve. At the moment we feel that we're going to create chances every time we go out." Reference: guardian.co.uk

Champions League 2006-2007: Seventh Heaven - Ferguson: 'It was my greatest night at Old Trafford'

Some nights in football are golden. "In European terms that has to be my greatest moment at Old Trafford," said Sir Alex Ferguson, casting his mind back over the way Manchester United had blown a gaping hole in Italy's reputation of having the world's most accomplished defences. "The quality of our game was so high that once we scored the second and third goals I was in the dugout thinking 'this could be something really big here'. But even so, I wasn't expecting that." Ferguson used the word "uncanny" and he shook his head with disbelief as he pored over the most exhilarating display of fast, penetrative, adventurous football this stadium has witnessed since the Champions League's inception. "Hopefully it's not a one-off but the quality of goals was so high it is difficult to think we could ever get that again," he said. "It was a fantastic performance; the speed of our play, the penetration, the confidence we showed, the clinical nature of our finishing. It was a special night and we can't wait for the semi-finals now because it will give the club a real lift. "We've had a couple of bad results in the last weeks and it isn't easy for a club like ours to lose two successive matches. But all the great teams have to get over these mishaps. Every team has disappointments but it's how you recover that's important. We have shown a new level of maturity and performance here. "We played Milan a couple of years ago and back then Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney were young lads and not ready for those nights. They found it difficult against experienced opponents but tonight they looked like men." On a night when Ferguson felt Ronaldo and Rooney came of age, and Michael Carrick bewitched Old Trafford with his range of passing, he also made sure to identify Alan Smith for special acclaim. "He deserves it more than anyone," he said the United manager of a player making only his fourth start of the season, but who is finally showing signs that he has fully recovered from the broken leg and dislocated ankle he suffered against Liverpool 14 months ago. "His attitude is absolutely wonderful but the greatest qualities he has shown are his patience and his perseverance," said Ferguson. "You have Ryan Giggs who sees these European nights as such a challenge and Michael Carrick, who I believe is getting better and better and is now playing with an excellent authority. But the one individual we have to pay attention to is Smith because his enthusiasm spread through the team." There was praise, too, for unsung heroes such as Darren Fletcher and John O'Shea on a night when it was easy sometimes to forget that United were missing the considerable talents of, among others, Paul Scholes, Louis Saha and Nemanja Vidic. "What we have done really well is that all the players who have come into the team have responded to the challenge," said Ferguson. "I'm particularly pleased because all these players are responding. I said a while ago that the players who could bring us success would be the ones who are often sitting on the bench and I hope that is the case. We have to win something to be seen as a great team and hopefully we will do that now. The way they are playing and enjoying their football, they deserve it." With United and Chelsea already through, Liverpool all but assured of joining them tonight, Ferguson went on to say the presence of three English teams in the semi-finals signified that the Premiership could now be considered as the strongest league in Europe. "A few years ago I would have said that Spanish football was the best but the evidence this season is that Barcelona and Real Madrid are nowhere near as strong as they have been in previous years," he said. "The quality of the English game has improved and everyone can see that now because it is very probable there will be three of us in the semis and, hopefully, an all-English final. I think English football has to be recognised as the best in Europe now." United's magnificent seven 1-0 Carrick 11min The midfielder collects Ronaldo's infield pass and takes one touch before beautifully curling the ball around Doni 2-0 Smith 17min His first goal since November 2006, a composed volley from the edge of the area after Chivu misjudges Giggs' through-ball 3-0 Rooney 19min Giggs picks up Smith's pass, runs unchallenged down the right and crosses low for Rooney to steer the ball home 4-0 Ronaldo 40min Roma are unable to deal with the winger's speed down the right and he cuts inside to beat Doni at the near post 5-0 Ronaldo 49min Giggs is again the provider, powering past Panucci to send in a cross which avoids Smith but is slotted home by Ronaldo 6-0 Carrick 49min Ronaldo's cross from the right is overhit but Heinze picks the ball up and finds Carrick, who curls the ball around Doni 7-1 Evra 81min The substitute collects a pass from Solskjaer, advances to the edge of the area and squeezes his shot between two defenders Champions League thrashings in the competition's later stages Milan 4 Barcelona 0 Final, 1994 Ajax 5 Bayern Munich 2 agg 5-2, semi-final, 1995 Manchester United 4 Porto 0 agg 4-0, quarter-final, 1997 Kaiserslautern 0 Bayern Munich 4 agg 0-6, quarter-final, 1999 Barcelona 5 Chelsea 1, agg 6-4, quarter-final, 2000 Valencia 5 Lazio 2 agg 5-4, quarter-final, 2004 Deportivo La Coruña 4 Milan 0 agg 5-4, quarter-final, 2004 Lyon 7 Werder Bremen 2 agg 10-2, R16, 2005 Lyon 4 PSV Eindhoven 0 agg 5-0, R16, 2006 Reference: guardian.co.uk

Champions League 2006 -2007: Man United get Roma

Liverpool drawn against PSV, Chelsea paired with Valencia, Man United get Roma The prospect of an all-English Champions League final remains a vibrant possibility after Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United avoided each other in today's quarter-final draw in Athens. Liverpool were handed what looks the easiest passage of the English teams, against Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven, who they beat and drew with during the group stages. But things don't look so easy for Chelsea and Manchester United, who face Valencia and Roma respectively. The final quarter-final, meanwhile, sees a meeting of two of the grand old men of European football, Milan and Bayern Munich. Certainly Liverpool secretary, Byrce Morrison, was ebullient after his club was paired with PSV. "It's one of the better draws for us and we've looking forward to playing them" he said. "We're beginning to get the feeling this is Liverpool's year. Let's hope we can win it again." Providing they overcome the Dutch champions, Liverpool will face the winners of Chelsea v Valencia in the semi-finals, with United or Roma taking on the winners of Bayern v Milan. On paper, Chelsea's tie with Valencia - twice nearly men in the Champions League during the past decade and victors over Internazionale in the last 16 - looks mightily tricky, but the club's chief executive, Peter Kenyon is confident of coming through: "It gives us a good chance," he said. "We'd rather be at home for the second leg, but overall we're happy with the draw. We've never got to the final, but we stand a good chance." But United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was more cautious about facing Roma, second in Serie A and conquerors of Lyon in the last 16. "We respect their last result," he said. "They have some great players like (Daniele) De Rossi and Mancini. Obviously we do not look beyond this game. We must concentrate on this game and we are looking forward to it." Quarter-finals: Milan v Bayern Munich PSV Eindhoven v Liverpool Roma v Manchester United Chelsea v Valencia (Ties to be played on April 3/4 and April 10/11.) Semi-finals: Winners of Chelsea or Valencia v winners of PSV Eindhoven or Liverpool Winners of Roma or Manchester United v winners of Milan or Bayern Munich (Semi-final ties to be played on April 24/25 and May 1/2.) The final of the 2006/07 UEFA Champions League will be played in Olympic Stadium Athens on 23 May 2007. Come on Man United, we could be there. References: football.guardian, uefa.com

Champions League 2006-2007: Larsson legacy is ticket to the next round

There has been a debate among Manchester United followers as to the effectiveness of Henrik Larsson since the 35-year-old Swede plumped for an English sabbatical at Old Trafford in January. A degree of scepticism has shaped that argument, but Larsson skewed future memories favourably in his direction last night when he rose to nod in the 72nd-minute goal that takes United into their first Champions League quarter-final for four years. It was by no means an unforgettable strike but it was the high point of an otherwise forgettable game and its significance will increase the longer United stay in the competition. However, that cannot be guaranteed if they replicate some of the sluggishness on display against a Lille team that is tenacious but far from electric. That is Larsson's concern no more. After Saturday's FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough, Larsson will be present here for the Uefa charity match next Tuesday, but then he is gone, back to Helsingborgs. Sir Alex Ferguson said "forget that" on Tuesday when asked if he might be able to delay the process by which Larsson returns and Ferguson reiterated the impossibility of that last night. "Helsingborgs have their priorities," Ferguson said, "and Henrik has promised that to them. He's got his family, too, there's no point in going on about it. I've spoken to the man and he's going back. That, unfortunately, is that." Ferguson is one who does not doubt the Larsson effect. This was the Swede's ninth start in his loan spell and his decisive header, from a sublime run and cross from Cristiano Ronaldo, was his third goal and his last competitive touch in the red shirt at Old Trafford. What is troubling Ferguson is that in the space of a week, as United enter the final weeks of what remains a possible treble, he has lost three strikers. Yesterday's news that Louis Saha's scan on his hamstring discovered damage that will keep him out for a month - up to six matches - follows the loss last week of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to knee surgery. Solskjaer could be fit again quickly but with regulations apparently forbidding the calling back of Giuseppe Rossi from loan at Parma, it was therefore symbolic that when Larsson departed to a rousing ovation, Alan Smith was his replacement. Smith was lively and sharp in his 15 minutes but he has begun just two games this season, both in the Carling Cup. There was, moreover, a new injury to Darren Fletcher on Tuesday in training that will mean two months out and then, as a contest that never truly caught fire petered out, Mikaël Silvestre dislocated a shoulder in a heavy fall. He was carried off on a stretcher. Throw in the fact that Paul Scholes is suspended for Saturday, plus the Premiership home games with Bolton and Blackburn, and United's European progress has come laced with anxiety. When available again Scholes is at least an attacking option. Here he was deployed in a three-man support unit for Larsson and particularly in the first half, Scholes drilled holes in the Lille defence. Larsson's non-control meant that the best of these passes, in the eighth minute, was squandered, but the two linked intuitively six minutes later. Wayne Rooney, on the left last night, was found by Scholes and it took a brave block from Matthieu Chalme to deny United an early opener. From the resulting corner John O'Shea, goalscoring hero of Anfield, rose unchallenged to nod a header on to the crossbar and with Lille neat but blunt, matters looked fair for United. Considering the verbal butting that has gone on since the first leg, this turned out to be grudge match missing a grudge. Peter Odemwingie bloodied the nose of Nemanja Vidic but that was 27 minutes in. Shortly before that Jean Makoun wasted a promising headed chance and there was then a comedy moment when Scholes attempted to take a quick free-kick in the style of Ryan Giggs. The stadium laughed as Lille flapped. But the ground fell quiet at the start of the second half. Lille had to score, of course, and Odemwingie came closest just two minutes in with a miscued header that fooled Edwin van der Sar and struck a post. An away goal then and the whole occasion would have been changed. As it was Gary Neville and Rooney were merely two of the United players with arms outstretched in pleading frustration as their passing game disintegrated. It is at times like that when personal inspiration is necessary. Larsson provided it, spinning on to a short pass, finding Scholes, who switched the ball out to Ronaldo. Booked earlier for an apparent dive, Ronaldo burst past his marker, reached the byline and sent in a come-hither cross. Larsson's forehead did the rest. A sweet finish. Champions League hero Henrik Larsson departed Old Trafford to a standing ovation Larsson 72' - It's United's first shot on target and it's hard on Lille, but it was a brilliant goal. Receiving the ball from Larsson on the halfway line, Ronaldo jinked his way up the left wing at terrific speed, yet still managed to dig out a pinpoint cross from the touchline to his team-mate. From nine yards out there was little doubt Larsson would glance the ball into the far corner - he's been one of the best headers around for the past decade. References: football.guardian, youtube.com, teamtalk.com

Champions League 2006-2007: Lille want rematch

Blame Game Rumbles On The hostility between Manchester United and Lille spiralled to new heights last night when it emerged that the French club have demanded that their acrimonious Champions League match on Tuesday be replayed because of the perceived “invalidity” of Ryan Giggs’s winning goal. Lille’s written request to UEFA, European football’s governing body, is almost certain to be dismissed at a meeting of three members of their control and disciplinary body today. It is more likely that Lille would be expelled from the competition because of a combination of their behaviour and the security situation inside the Felix-Bollaert Stadium, but by far the most probable outcome is a rancorous second leg at OT on 7 March. The whole protest by Lille is absolutely ridiculous "The Free-Kick Law: The referee only needs to blow his whistle if the attacking team ask him to move the wall back. Otherwise, the kick can be taken quickly, without warning." I think this pretty much says it all, I have come across this rule at my own team's matches. The ref only has to blow his whistle to call the foul, to stop the play there needs to be another whistle in case the attacking team wants the wall to be put in its correct place, for example. The whole protest by Lille is absolutely ridiculous, but then again, when have the French not been sore losers? - KingKanchelskis, Manchester United fan. An ugly, ugly scene It all started when UEFA allowed Lille to play the home leg of their Manny U Champions League match-up in an older, smaller stadium with more antiquated facilities. It was a raucous atmosphere from the start to be sure, and the game was intense. And then, in the 83rd minute, cheeky Ryan Giggs took a quick free kick before the referee's whistle and before the Lille keeper had set. He curled it into the right corner of the net. The referee allowed the goal to stand. And all hell broke loose. On the ensuing kickoff, Lille kicked the ball off the pitch, and it appeared that Lille coach Claude Puel brought his team off the pitch. He certainly called them to the sideline. Despite all appearances to ther contrary, Puel is denying he brought his players off, but Sir Alex Ferguson is vehemently claiming it was a pure attempt at intimidation of the referee. Puel explained that "In France the tradition is to make a protest at the first pause in the game and then after the match. It's not logical. The signal the referee gave was not clear for everyone, especially for us ... I don't understand. We could not express a formal complaint as we could not find a Uefa delegate." If this is the tradition in France, it's a crap tradition. It clearly only added to the anger in the stands. But on the second point, I can see where he's coming from. Even Wayne Rooney, who placed the ball for Giggs, looked confused by the kick. According to the game announcer, it is at the discretion of the refereee in soccer when to allow play to resume on a free. Some require that you wait for a whistle. Others do not. That's a mighty tough way to lose a home Champions League leg in the knockout round. And when the play continued after a minute, the stands had erupted in anger with Lille fans hailing objects towards Manny U players on the pitch. Gary Neville was struck in the head with something, and looked to be bleeding. Due to the less-than-modern facilities, and the hostile environment, when United supporters started feeling that they were being crushed, with "shades of Hillsborough" in mind, some started climbing the gates to get out, and were promptly pepper sprayed and detained by French police. Sources: sportsfrog.com, manutd.com, teamtalk.com

Champions League 2006-2007: Lille vs Manchester United, Feb 20, 2007

Manchester United flew home clutching a priceless Champions League lead and left behind a storm of controversy that included a furious Lille coaching staff, who attempted to haul their players off the pitch before the final Lille keeper Tony Sylva was still lining his wall up when Ryan Giggs calmly stroked his free-kick into the top corner seven minutes from time to secure a 1-0 win. The home players raced to Dutch referee Eric Braamhaar, clearly unable to comprehend how the official had allowed the goal to stand. But Braamhaar was not for turning and triggered a quite stunning reaction from the home bench, with the signal clearly going out for the Lille players to head to the sideline and end the game. Thankfully, sanity prevailed and the contest continued, allowing United to claim a victory in a game which, until those bizarre last few minutes seemed set to be remembered for the chilling security scare inside the visitors end where fans seemed to get crushed in front of a 10 foot barrier. Mercifully, no-one was injured in the incident, although that was hardly due to the actions of the riot police, who fired tear gas into the enclosure. - Lille Vs Manchester United - Full Highlights - What Punishment Should Lille Face for nearly walking off the pitch? 'Lille should be thrown out of the competition. I don't care for what reason it happened but in this day and age no fan should have to be worried about getting crushed!!! Absolute disgrace. Get them out!!! United should just get a bye through - end of story. If they can't handle the big games they shouldn't be staging them. ' - happyhughes, Liverpool fan. 'lille are disgracefull! throwing there dummies out cos man u scored, That was a brave ref tonight, I think the french idiots goal should have stood and I cant see anything wrong with Giggs goal, the quick freekick has been happening for many seasons now and if your need ready for it, then its your own problem, Kick lille out of the champions league!!' - charWHUFC, West Ham United fan. 'What a disgrace Lille are, they should be kicked out of europe and man u be given a bye, Lille should also be banned from all european competitions! ' - henryequalsgod, Arsenal fan. 'Good games tonight in the champions league. But i feel very sorry for Lille. Just when it looked like it was going to be a similar result to Uniteds CL away ties of the past two years, the referee supposedly gives a quick free kick and his back is even turned when Giggs curles a free kick(which was a very good one by the way) over the wall and in. Very unlucky.But what goes around comes around.' - ezra, Chelsea fan. Sources: teamtalk.com, soccernet.com