Giggs: Experience to help United for title

LONDON - The Associated Press

Giggs recently scored for the 20th straight season in the Premier League. AFP photo

With most of its title rivals toiling over the Premier League’s traditionally busy holiday period, Manchester United has found an extra gear that seems likely to take the team to the top of the standings heading into 2012. United has wiped out the five-point lead held by Manchester City at the start of December and is seeking a sixth straight win when it hosts bottom side Blackburn on Dec. 31, the day manager Alex Ferguson celebrates his 70th birthday.

That would leave City in the unusual position of being behind in this season’s title race when Roberto Mancini’s team visits Sunderland on New Year’s Day.

Even a mountainous injury list of 11 players hasn’t yet upset United, the champions seeking a 20th title.
“The experience that the manager, the players and the coaching staff have of what’s required in the second half of the season, as well as the overall hunger and desire to win competitions, will help us,” said veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs, who recently scored for the 20th straight season in the Premier League.

“Big players can’t wait for big games. Toward the end of the season the games just get bigger and bigger. Personally, you want that in the run-in - you want to be involved in big games and going for the title. That’s why you become a footballer.”

City goes into the latest round of fixtures over the festive period ahead of its fierce rival on goal difference but, without a title since 1968, it doesn’t have United’s experience heading into the run-in. The leaders have dropped five points in its last four matches.