Ryan Giggs has admitted that one Manchester United legend was in for a rude awakening after Sir Alex Ferguson brought the former player to Old Trafford.
The 51-year-old Manchester United legend spent his entire remarkable playing career at the Premier League club after emerging through the youth academy.
One of the famed ‘Class of ‘92’ breakout stars, Ryan Giggs was brought into the United first team under Sir Alex Ferguson and became a mainstay under him.
The Welshman spent the large majority of his legendary playing career under former United manager Ferguson and enjoyed incredible success at Old Trafford.
Giggs remains United’s all-time leading appearance-maker after playing in an eye-watering 963 matches for the Red Devils first team.
During his time at Old Trafford, the Welsh former winger lifted 13 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues, four FA Cups and four League Cups.
Red Devils legend Giggs played on briefly after Ferguson retired in 2013 before he called it time on his remarkable United playing career in 2014.
Giggs uses Man Utd legend as ‘example’
Ryan Giggs took charge of Manchester United as interim player-manager in 2014 after David Moyes was axed by the Premier League club.
The ex-Wales international later served as assistant manager under ex-United boss Louis van Gaal before entering the world of management with his native homeland.
Giggs, who stepped down as Wales manager in 2020, recalled what Rio Ferdinand experienced after his move to Old Trafford in 2002 from Leeds United.
Rio Ferdinand broke the British record transfer fee for the second time in his career when Sir Alex Ferguson signed him for £30m.
Giggs revealed the 46-year-old former United defender found himself as a “constant” target for getting the “mick taken out of him” in a training drill at the Red Devils.
“I used the example of Rio Ferdinand, he was a brilliant player when he came to Man Utd,” he told beIN Sports, as per the Metro in 2020.
“But all of a sudden, he’s one of the worst players in training in the boxes we used to play, the little keep ball 8 vs 2 and he’s thinking, ‘Wow!’
“All of a sudden you are under pressure before training has even started because that’s part of the warm-up.
“He wouldn’t get the mick taken out of him at Leeds or West Ham if he was in the middle. At United it was constant.
“If you are in the middle, they are putting the bib on you, just keep it on, and instantly you are probably going home thinking, ‘What’s just happened there? I used to enjoy training!’”
Giggs on Ferdinand’s Man Utd training turnaround
Rio Ferdinand enjoyed incredible success during his time under Ferguson and is widely considered one of the best Premier League defenders of all time.
A complete Rolls-Royce defender, the TNT Sports pundit was at the heart of the United defence and forged a remarkable pairing with United legend Nemanja Vidic.
Ferdinand lifted six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy and two League Cups during a stunning spell at the Red Devils.
Giggs claimed the former England and United defender later became the “best” in the training drill after he stepped up to the challenge at Old Trafford.
“You have to step up to that next level,” he added.
“There is no hiding place. And he cost £30m, the most expensive defender in the world [at that time]. It didn’t matter.
“And, of course, by the end of it, he was the best. He was the best in the box because he was so good with his feet, he was confident so there is a bit, or was a bit, of sink or swim.”
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