Manchester United v Bayern Munich: United WON'T look to 1999 Nou Camp success for inspiration ahead of tonight's Champions League quarter-final

Ryan Giggs reveals that some members of the team can't remember the match given that the Welsh midfielder is the only member of the victorious squad still playing at United

Paul Hirst
Tuesday 01 April 2014 11:45 BST
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Manchester United celebrate their 1999 Champions League success
Manchester United celebrate their 1999 Champions League success

Manchester United will resist the temptation to watch replays of their most famous European night prior to Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

The latest chapter in one of Europe's most fierce rivalries will be written tonight when Bayern Munich come to Old Trafford for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with United.

Fifteen years ago United came from behind to wrest the Champions League trophy from Bayern's grasp thanks to injury-time goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Given that United are currently going through their worst season for over two decades, they would be forgiven for wanting to watch the tape of that win to remind them of happier times.

But Giggs, the sole survivor of the two sides that contested that thrilling match Barcelona, sees no point in doing so.

"We won't do that," the United midfielder said.

"Some of the lads probably don't remember it.

"All the players are different now apart from myself."

Giggs' appearance at the pre-match press conference suggests the 40-year-old could start on Tuesday, and the midfielder played down talk of a rift between him and manager David Moyes.

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He said: "There is no problem with the manager; I don't know where that came from. The relationship is good.

"Of course as a player you want to play all the time. I normally play every two or three weeks to get the best out of me. The last game was probably my first for seven weeks but you are not sulking, you just have to be ready to play your best for the team."

Although Robin van Persie's hat-trick against Olympiacos secured United's progression to the last eight, Giggs' contribution to the second leg was arguably as big.

The United midfielder rolled back the years to set up two goals with a pair of glorious long passes.

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But despite a healthy diet and a commitment to extensive yoga sessions, Giggs is unsure whether his body will be able to stand the rigours of another season at the club.

"I don't know (if I will play on for another year)," said Giggs, who made his United debut some 23 years ago.

"I'll tell you after tomorrow! I am just trying to enjoy this season and then at the end I will take stock and see what I want to do.

"I am enjoying my football as much as ever, I feel fit and then at the end of the season, I will see what I want to do."

Manager Moyes eased some of the pressure on his shoulders with the 3-2 aggregate win over Olympiacos, but domestic results since have been inconsistent.

Moyes knows his men are big underdogs, but he wants them to raise their game and stun the reigning champions.

"These are the sort of nights in history United have risen to and we want to do that," Moyes said.

"This is one of the reasons why I took this job. The Champions League is a really good competition, it has been really good for us so far. I came into it as a really inexperienced manager in the Champions League but we have done well and now we have the ultimate test in Bayern Munich.

"We have go into the game knowing we have to get a good result to take it to Germany and we will try to do that."

PA

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