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Giggs geared up for FA Cup final Man United midfielder ready for second leg of triple crown
Posted: Thursday May 20, 1999 09:18 AM
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) -- Ryan Giggs has hailed his FA Cup semifinal winning goal against Arsenal as the best he has ever scored -- and says he is keen to score another one like it against Newcastle United in the final on Saturday. Giggs, still only 25 and set to play in his fourth FA Cup Final in six six seasons, ran from the halfway line and beat half the Arenal defense before shooting past goalkeeper David Seaman from a tight angle to help 10-man United defeat Arsenal 2-1 at Villa Park last month. His strike was immediatly acclaimed as one of the best goals ever scored, but Giggs believes Diego Maradona's solo goal against England in the 1986 World Cup finals was better. "My favorite goal is Diego Maradona's in the World Cup. It was probably the best goal I have ever seen," he said. "To be compared to a goal like that was very flattering. My goal was the sort of thing you dream about as a kid and hopefully I can score another one like it on Saturday." Giggs admitted to having watched the goal frequently but his recollection of the run remains a blur. "I remember getting it on the halfway line and the next thing I knew I was in the penalty box. I just managed to get through Martin Keown and Lee Dixon and I couldn't believe where I was so I smashed the ball into the net. "I was just glad to get the winner. I didn't realize I had beaten so many players until I saw the replays on television. It was my best purely for the occasion, as it was a massive game, and it gave us the lift we needed and probably helped us in the league." Giggs is set to start the final after recovering from an ankle injury and plans to play his part in a game that many regard as the easier part of what would be a unique triple crown for an English club. United has already won the Premier League, and the European Cup final against Bayern Munich is four days after the Wembley date. Although the tension is mounting Giggs is refusing to let it weigh on his mind. "We try and win every game we play and we are not thinking of trebles. "If we can do it that will be great. But I don't think you can afford to look at the bigger picture -- just the next game you play. "Our belief is that every game can be won and that will not be damaged if Newcastle score an early goal. "The Liverpool sides in the 80s were reknowned for scoring late goals," Giggs added. "And we are similar. The team spirit is great and even if we go a goal down we still believe we will win."
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