'The manager is as good as ever and will go on for a long time', says Ryan Giggs

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has praised team manager Sir Alex Ferguson, saying that he hopes the latter will retain his position for a long time and continue to guide the younger generation.

"The manager is as good as ever and will go on for a long time. To be honest, I can see him as a manager of United in five years time, easily, even at 75,” News of the World quoted Giggs, as saying.

"As long as he is healthy, he'll have the desire to carry on. He has a great team around him and he has his passions away from the game, like horse racing, so when he comes back to football he is always refreshed," he added.

Giggs also said that Fergie loves to tipple after games and that his own relationship with the boss has improved with age.

Although Sir Alex retains a fear factor, Giggs feels youngsters have less reason to fear him than when he was growing up at the club.

News of the World quoted him as saying that he has known him since he was 12 years old and it changed from him just being a kid looking up to his coach, to being an experienced player he talks to and from whom the coach actually asks advice about certain players and situations.

"It's always been a good relationship, but it has never been better than it is at this moment.