The highlight of the week so far for any Manchester United fan has of course got to be those three precious points picked up in Valencia on Wednesday. Keeping a clean sheet that night is incidentally almost just as pleasing. But there were two other announcements which must as critical for the grueling season ahead. Within hours of new Bulgariacoach Lothar Matthaeus admitting defeat in his efforts to convice Dimitar Berbarov to make an international comeback for his country, veteran Ryan Giggs ruled himself out of taking on the vacant Wales manager post.
The Football Association of Wales immediately targeted Giggs as soon as John Toshack confirmed his resignation early in September but the veteran quashed all their hopes this week by insisting that “I am playing for Manchester United and am fully focussed on that. One day I would like to do it but I didn’t think about it this time” Giggsconfessed. “Before I get any job I want to get all the necessary qualifications, I wouldn’t take a job until I had them.”
Giggs is fully aware that at the age of 36 his retirement is fast approaching which is the reason why he has been taking his UEFA coaching badges. “I am halfway through my UEFA ’A’ Licence at the moment, the idea being that I will be ready for it when I do finish” he explained “I honestly don’t know whether I would like it. Until you try it how can you? I will probably either love it or hate it. I enjoy helping young players and being out on the training ground. I enjoy the buzz of the game” he said “but when you are not playing you are going to lose all that. How do you get it back? Coaching or managing.”
The chances of Matthaeus persuading Berbatov to reverse his decision were never going to be good because the Bulgarian has been in dazzling form since turning his back on his country. It may be pure coincidence but the fact cannot be overlooked. Matthaeus has now accepted that Berbatov will not change his mind saying that “I’ve had several conversations with him but he’s not ready to play for Bulgaria again. He gave me no reasons but for me the issue is settled for Berbatov and other players can now take their chances” Matthaeus added.
Both decisions will be welcomed by Sir Alex Ferguson who loves nothing more than to have his players completely focused on their club commitments. Now if he can convince the troubled Wayne Rooney to withdraw from the England setup until he can get his head together…only food for thought folks!
Should Rooney make a temporary withdrawal from the England?
