Ryan Giggs 'a fantastic human being', says Alex Ferguson

Manchester United midfielder scored in the 2-0 victory over Everton

Sir Alex Ferguson has run out of things to say about long-serving Manchester United star Ryan Giggs.

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The veteran Welshman opened the scoring in yesterday's 2-0 win over Everton, with Robin van Persie adding the second as United went 12 points clear of Manchester City in the title race.

It means Giggs has extended his record of scoring in every Premier League season. And, including the two Football League campaigns he was involved in before the big switch in 1992, the 39-year-old now has 23 unbroken years of league goals behind him.

The milestone is yet another in a staggering career, quite unparalleled in the modern-day game.

And Ferguson admits he does not know how much more he can say about Giggs' talent.

"I think the superlatives have all been used up," said the United boss.

"I don't think he needs any himself.

"His legacy lives on he is just a fantastic human being.

"Again at 38, or is he 39, maybe even 40 he is up and down that pitch all day.

"He has fantastic energy for the game. It is wonderful to see."

Giggs' contribution means he probably will not be part of United's starting line-up in Madrid on Wednesday.

Yet, in a sense, the encounter with Everton was of infinitely more value than a meeting with Jose Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu.

After all, for all the glitz and glamour, United and Madrid are only playing for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Once Manchester City had lost at Southampton, yesterday's game almost turned into a title-decider for United.

"As soon as I saw the result at Southampton I thought this was an opportunity for us to get a real comfortable lead," said Ferguson.

"I scrapped the changes I originally planned to make.

"I was going to make about seven changes but it was about being realistic.

"We knew if we could get a result then it put us in a fantastic position and we can make changes later on in the season."

That pre-supposes United do make it past Madrid, whose coach Mourinho met Ferguson ahead of yesterday's game and watched on from the directors' box.

However, after losing the title to City last term, there has been a keen desire for the Red Devils to regain their superiority.

And Everton boss David Moyes is not alone in believing that is what will happen.

"I think 12 points against a club like Manchester United is a big gap to make up," said Moyes.

"Football doesn't always go the way it is meant to be but it looks a lot.

"To be that amount of points ahead is a big thing at this time of the season."

PA