world cup Giggs talks greatest opponents Messi status

The Manchester derby on 30 April will decide the Premier League title race,?according to United midfielder Ryan Giggs. Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Welshman made his prediction of an all-or-nothing decider.

United lead City by three points with eight?rounds remaining following their 1-0 win over Fulham last night. But crucially, City have a better goal difference and will be the hosts when the sides next meet.

"We have the experience, but City have the hunger," said Giggs. "If we both keeping going like this, everything will be decided in the derby."

Both sides would still have two games left after the fixture at the Etihad Stadium, including tricky away ties in the north-east.

As for his own career, Giggs is hoping to keep going for a while longer and wrack up 1,000 appearances for United. Last month he played his 900th game for the Red Devils against Norwich City, scoring an injury-time winner in the process.

Maradona and Pele won the World Cup with Argentina and Brazil. When Messi wins a World Cup with his country, he'll step on to the podium.Ryan Giggs

Looking back over his career, mostly as a left-winger, the 38-year-old named former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon?and Inter Milan's Javier Zanetti as the toughest opponents he has come up against.

Giggs said: "I faced Zanetti for the first time in the Champions League quarter-finals in 1999. He was the right-back and I was on the left. He impressed with his qualities: his speed, power, intelligence and expertise. I played against him on another two occasions and he was my most difficult opponent, a complete player."

But the Italian player who impressed?Giggs the most was Juventus's Alessandro Del Piero. When Manchester United qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since English clubs had been allowed back in Europe, I Bianconeri were the dominant force on the continent.

"The Juventus team of the 1990s was fantastic," said Giggs. "Del Piero is the best Italian player I've played against. We are the same age and I've followed his whole career."

Giggs talks EURO 2012, all-time greatest player
Looking ahead to UEFA EURO 2012, Giggs risked upsetting some of his team-mates by saying he doesn't rate England's chances. Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney are all likely to be a part of the England squad, while Phil Jones, Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley, Michael Carrick and Chris Smalling are also in with a shout.

"Spain and Germany are the favourites, followed by France, Italy and Holland," said Giggs. "I can't see England winning, they still don't have a coach and Rooney is suspended for the first two games."

Recently there has been much talk of record-breaking Lionel Messi being the best player of all time, but Giggs reckons there is still something crucial missing from the Argentinian's?trophy cabinet.

The former Wales international opined: "Without a doubt he's the best in the world today. He scores a lot, almost every week, and always plays to a high level.

"But [Diego] Maradona and Pele won the World Cup with Argentina and Brazil. When Messi wins a World Cup with his country, he'll step on to the podium."

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