Ryan Giggs admitted he was fortunate to be surrounded by good players in the latter stages of his career and singled out Robin van Persie for special praise for ‘making him look good’.
Giggs – currently Wales’ manager – played into his 40’s at Manchester United, finally hanging up his boots in 2014 to move behind the scenes.
He won a record-setting 13 Premier League titles as a player, while he also won three League Cups, four FA Cups and two Champions Leagues during a glittering career.
By his own admission, he had lost a yard of pace in his latter years and had to adapt his game.
But the quality of the likes of Van Persie helped that transition be more seamless.
When it was put to him that former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo will play into his 40’s, Giggs told the Greatest Game with Carragher: ‘Yes. I think exactly the same.
‘The way he looks after himself and he’s also got what I had: good players around him.
‘When I was playing towards the end. I had good players around me.
‘Van Persie making runs, I’m stood in midfield just lofting them over the centre-half’s head. He made you look good.
‘It’s so much easier with good players.
‘Of course I looked after myself and I still had ability but when you’ve got good players around you it’s so much easier.’
