TOURNAMENT – Barclays Premier League

MATCH – Southampton (Away) at St. Mary’s Stadium

DATE & TIME – 11th May 2014, 15:00 GMT (19:30 IST)

Pre-Match Press Conference of Ryan Giggs

Q. Can you, first of all, bring us up to date with the injury situation with regards, particularly, to Phil Jones’ situation?

Giggs: Yeah. Phil’s injury isn’t as bad as I thought on the night. So he’s obviously out for Sunday, but he should be okay for the World Cup. Wayne’s just started training over the last couple of days – Sunday is probably a little too quick for him. But obviously, he’ll train and be fine for the World Cup also.

Q. Well obviously, we know you’ve been reluctant to, really, make any comment on the possible appointment of the new manager. But given the fact that Louis van Gaal has now come out and said that he would love the job, and we’re all hearing that there’s going to be an appointment next week, what are your thoughts on the process of appointing the manager so far?

Giggs: You know, my stance isn’t any different than it was last week. Obviously, there’s been huge speculation but nothing’s been announced yet. And my job is to prepare the team for Southampton, so that’s what I’ll do. I’m sure there will be an announcement soon, and maybe I can comment on it then. But at the moment it’s just speculation so there’s not a lot I can say.

Q. Are you looking forward to that appointment as much as everybody else is, whatever appointment that may be?

Giggs: Yeah, I think everyone is. Obviously, it’s been a difficult season for us. So when the management situation gets sorted out, we can move on and like I said, that’ll probably be in the next couple of weeks.

Q. Ryan, in terms of the three-four weeks you’ve been in charge, has that fuelled your desire to be a manager? You’ve never made a secret of the fact that it was the move you wanted to go down when your playing career finished. But, you’ve also alluded to the fact that there’s more to the job than you envisaged. Do you still want to be a manager?

Giggs: Yeah, it just depends on what time of the day you’re asking that question (smiles) – sometimes you probably think – “Yeah, I can do that” and another times it gives you so much pleasure. After the game last Saturday, you could without it. But you probably learn more from defeats and not doing so well, just like when you’re a player. But I’ve enjoyed it – I’ve enjoyed the whole experience and it’s definitely helped me prepare for what will come after my playing career.

Q. Where does the motivation come from? Because clearly you’re in a position where you don’t financially, I assume, have to work. And you see managers getting sacked 6, 9, even lesser months time. What is the motivation to do the job?

Giggs: It’s not a lot different from a player actually. The satisfaction you get from winning, and the pleasure you get from setting up a team, and they go out and do their stuff. And equally so, when you lose a game, you’re gutted, you’re angry, you’re disappointed – but just like a player, you can’t wait for the next game to come so you can do something about it. It sort of goes around in waves really – one minute you enjoy it, one minute you don’t. But ultimately, it gives you a lot of satisfaction when everything goes all right.

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