Semi-finals
29.04.2009 v Arsenal (H) 20:45
05.05.2009 v Arsenal (A) 20:45
Giggs lands PFA gong
Giggs, 35 and enjoying his 19th season in the top flight, has never previously won the award – voted by fellow professionals – but pipped team-mates Nemanja Vidic, Edwin van der Sar, Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard to this year’s gong.
"It's right up there with personal accolades," Giggs admitted. "It's the best to have as it's voted by your fellow players.
"I've been fortunate to win a lot of trophies - I won the young player award twice - but this is the big one."
Renowned in the world game as one of the best left wingers to ever take to the pitch, Giggs has operated largely as a central midfielder this season.
Despite the positional change, the Welshman has proved just as effective – these days it’s his guile, craft and ability to pick a pass that opens up opposition defences.
Speaking at the gala dinner, Giggs recognised the contribution United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has had on his development.
"The manager has been massive in my career, from when I first met him when I was 13," he said. "That's over 20 years and he knows me better than anyone and our relationship has been brilliant and just gets better.
"I've been so fortunate to have such a great career in so many great teams. It's not even worth thinking about what it would have been like without the manager."
Giggs is the 32nd different player to win the award and takes the crown from fellow United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who won both the senior and young-player awards last term.
"It's right up there with personal accolades," Giggs admitted. "It's the best to have as it's voted by your fellow players.
"I've been fortunate to win a lot of trophies - I won the young player award twice - but this is the big one."
Renowned in the world game as one of the best left wingers to ever take to the pitch, Giggs has operated largely as a central midfielder this season.
Despite the positional change, the Welshman has proved just as effective – these days it’s his guile, craft and ability to pick a pass that opens up opposition defences.
Speaking at the gala dinner, Giggs recognised the contribution United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has had on his development.
"The manager has been massive in my career, from when I first met him when I was 13," he said. "That's over 20 years and he knows me better than anyone and our relationship has been brilliant and just gets better.
"I've been so fortunate to have such a great career in so many great teams. It's not even worth thinking about what it would have been like without the manager."
Giggs is the 32nd different player to win the award and takes the crown from fellow United star Cristiano Ronaldo, who won both the senior and young-player awards last term.
1988/89 - Mark Hughes 1990/91 - Mark Hughes 1991/92 - Gary Pallister 1993/94 - Eric Cantona 2000/01 - Teddy Sheringham 2001/02 - Ruud van Nistelrooy 2
Ryan Giggs was named the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Players’ Player of the Year at a gala dinner in London on Sunday night.
United winners
1988/89 - Mark Hughes
1990/91 - Mark Hughes
1991/92 - Gary Pallister
1993/94 - Eric Cantona
2000/01 - Teddy Sheringham
2001/02 - Ruud van Nistelrooy
2006/07 - Cristiano Ronaldo
2007/08 - Cristiano Ronaldo
2008/09 - Ryan Giggs
1990/91 - Mark Hughes
1991/92 - Gary Pallister
1993/94 - Eric Cantona
2000/01 - Teddy Sheringham
2001/02 - Ruud van Nistelrooy
2006/07 - Cristiano Ronaldo
2007/08 - Cristiano Ronaldo
2008/09 - Ryan Giggs
"We know we're in a great position. We've got five games left and it's ours to throw away. It was very important to win against Spurs and stay top of
United are just 10 points from title glory and there is no doubt in Cristiano Ronaldo's mind that the Reds will get the job done.
After coming back from the brink of defeat against Tottenham on Saturday thanks to an incredible second half goal blitz, Sir Alex's men now know, that regardless of what Liverpool do, they can wrap up proceedings in the next four games and ensure a third successive season as champions.
Ronaldo, who chipped in with two goals in the comeback against Spurs, says every league game is the equivalent of a cup final and he is convinced the Reds will reign triumphant next month.
"We have five games left and we know that if we win the next four we will win the league," he told MUTV. "We have five cup finals left and we have to believe. I'm looking forward to every game and I'm very confident we'll win the title again."
It was Ronaldo who began the sensational turnaround on Saturday, calming slotting home a controversial penalty 12 minutes after the break. With a buoyant Old Trafford faithful roaring them on, the Reds were soon in front and heading back to the top of the table.
"We know we didn't play well in the first half," admits Ronaldo. "But the spirit was different after half-time. We were a lot sharper and the players had more motivation. I was very happy with my goals and delighted for my team-mates as well - Rooney, Tevez, Berba - they all played fantastic.
"The atmosphere was absolutely brilliant in the second half and the fans helped us win the game. When we are together like that, the players and the supporters, you always know the result will come."
After coming back from the brink of defeat against Tottenham on Saturday thanks to an incredible second half goal blitz, Sir Alex's men now know, that regardless of what Liverpool do, they can wrap up proceedings in the next four games and ensure a third successive season as champions.
Ronaldo, who chipped in with two goals in the comeback against Spurs, says every league game is the equivalent of a cup final and he is convinced the Reds will reign triumphant next month.
"We have five games left and we know that if we win the next four we will win the league," he told MUTV. "We have five cup finals left and we have to believe. I'm looking forward to every game and I'm very confident we'll win the title again."
It was Ronaldo who began the sensational turnaround on Saturday, calming slotting home a controversial penalty 12 minutes after the break. With a buoyant Old Trafford faithful roaring them on, the Reds were soon in front and heading back to the top of the table.
"We know we didn't play well in the first half," admits Ronaldo. "But the spirit was different after half-time. We were a lot sharper and the players had more motivation. I was very happy with my goals and delighted for my team-mates as well - Rooney, Tevez, Berba - they all played fantastic.
"The atmosphere was absolutely brilliant in the second half and the fans helped us win the game. When we are together like that, the players and the supporters, you always know the result will come."
Wayne happy to have control
"We know we're in a great position. We've got five games left and it's ours to throw away. It was very important to win against Spurs and stay top of the league with a three-point margin."
- Wayne Rooney
Against Tottenham Hotspur
the 28-year-old dazzled in United's 5-2 win, with Sir Alex describing his performance as "fantastic".
"I don't think he gave the ball away once, throughout the entire game," the boss told MUTV. "I thought he was our best player in the first half and then in the second he produced some wonderful moments.
"He produces moments that make you sit back and say: 'that's world class'. The pass he gave Ronaldo in the second half was unbelievable."
Berbatov didn't feature in United's 2-0 win against Portsmouth in midweek, three days after his somewhat casual penalty had been saved at Wembley. Many media outlets lambasted the striker for the miss, while radio phone-ins were awash with suggestion that the Bulgarian was overpriced.
"Look, he missed a penalty kick. Many players have done that," reasoned Sir Alex. "Rio missed one last weekend as well and it’s all forgotten about.
"But because we paid so much money for Berbatov people are on his back. I know it was a bad penalty kick, I'm not making excuses for it. But we have to move on. It’s only a missed penalty.
"He produced some fantastic football last week but didn’t get the credit because of the penalty miss."
"I don't think he gave the ball away once, throughout the entire game," the boss told MUTV. "I thought he was our best player in the first half and then in the second he produced some wonderful moments.
"He produces moments that make you sit back and say: 'that's world class'. The pass he gave Ronaldo in the second half was unbelievable."
Berbatov didn't feature in United's 2-0 win against Portsmouth in midweek, three days after his somewhat casual penalty had been saved at Wembley. Many media outlets lambasted the striker for the miss, while radio phone-ins were awash with suggestion that the Bulgarian was overpriced.
"Look, he missed a penalty kick. Many players have done that," reasoned Sir Alex. "Rio missed one last weekend as well and it’s all forgotten about.
"But because we paid so much money for Berbatov people are on his back. I know it was a bad penalty kick, I'm not making excuses for it. But we have to move on. It’s only a missed penalty.
"He produced some fantastic football last week but didn’t get the credit because of the penalty miss."
Boss
At the end of a week in which Dimitar Berbatov was criticised heavily for his penalty miss in the FA Cup semi-final, the Bulgarian tormented his former club and proved just why United shelled out so much money to secure his signature last summer.
National leagues : Premier League
Team Pld Pts
1 Manchester United FC 33 77
2 Liverpool FC 34 74
3 Chelsea FC 34 71
4 Arsenal FC 34 65
5 Aston Villa FC 34 55
6 Everton FC 34 53
7 Fulham FC 34 47
8 West Ham United FC 34 45
9 Manchester City FC 34 44
10 Tottenham Hotspur FC 34 44
11 Wigan Athletic FC 33 41
12 Stoke City FC 34 39
13 Bolton Wanderers FC 34 38
14 Portsmouth FC 33 37
15 Blackburn Rovers FC 34 37
16 Sunderland AFC 34 35
17 Hull City AFC 34 34
18 Middlesbrough FC 34 31
19 Newcastle United FC 33 30
20 West Bromwich Albion FC 34 28
1 Manchester United FC 33 77
2 Liverpool FC 34 74
3 Chelsea FC 34 71
4 Arsenal FC 34 65
5 Aston Villa FC 34 55
6 Everton FC 34 53
7 Fulham FC 34 47
8 West Ham United FC 34 45
9 Manchester City FC 34 44
10 Tottenham Hotspur FC 34 44
11 Wigan Athletic FC 33 41
12 Stoke City FC 34 39
13 Bolton Wanderers FC 34 38
14 Portsmouth FC 33 37
15 Blackburn Rovers FC 34 37
16 Sunderland AFC 34 35
17 Hull City AFC 34 34
18 Middlesbrough FC 34 31
19 Newcastle United FC 33 30
20 West Bromwich Albion FC 34 28
Second-half display
Manchester United FC scored five second-half goals against Tottenham Hotspur FC as they recovered from 2-0 down to beat the Londoners 5-2 and re-establish their three-point advanage over Liverpool FC at the Premier League summit.
Darren Bent (29) and Luka Modrić (32) deservedly gave the visitors a lead to take into the break and, at that point, few inside Old Trafford would have envisaged what was to come. Cristiano Ronaldo's 57th-minute penalty halved the deficit and Wayne Rooney (67) levelled with the first of three goals in four minutes, the pair each adding second strikes. Dimitar Berbatov struck a fifth eleven minutes from time. United, who host Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, still have a game in hand on Liverpool, who went top on goal difference earlier in the day with a 3-1 victory at Hull City AFC.
Darren Bent (29) and Luka Modrić (32) deservedly gave the visitors a lead to take into the break and, at that point, few inside Old Trafford would have envisaged what was to come. Cristiano Ronaldo's 57th-minute penalty halved the deficit and Wayne Rooney (67) levelled with the first of three goals in four minutes, the pair each adding second strikes. Dimitar Berbatov struck a fifth eleven minutes from time. United, who host Arsenal FC in the UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, still have a game in hand on Liverpool, who went top on goal difference earlier in the day with a 3-1 victory at Hull City AFC.
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