Inevitably he mentions one of the great "come backs", the first match played by the newly formed Busby Babes after the Munich Air Disaster in 1958. The Busby Babes had been in five consecutive FA Youth Cup Finals in the 1950s and Giggs realised how important the Youth Cup was to the development of a club. Some how the Busby Bbes maintained a high standard.
These days with free flowing cash and huge transfer fees often not an obstacle, home grown players and successful youth teams are less important to club's success. Giggs, as a United Youth team player, got to know Busby Babes such as Bobby Charlton and of course was inspired by Matt Busby. Giggs was eager to play in a successful Manchester United Youth (U18) team in the FA Youth Cup. Nobby Stiles was the Youth team coach and Giggs played along side teenagers who would soon become legends. The FA Youth Cup has been contested since 1951 and United have won it 20 times and runners up 4 times. His year group had some success.
Giggs had already been in the United first team and was put back into the Youth team in 1992 to "strengthen" the team. He replaced Robby Savage! Having been on losing sides in the semi-finals for the previous two seasons, United wanted success in what was Giggs' last "youth" year.
In 1993, I was coaching the Charterhouse School U18 team and we had won through to the Independent Schools' Cup Final that March. Although we lost to Forest School at Craven Cottage on penalties (coincidentally future United footballer, South African, Quinton Fortune was playing for Forest), we were treated by one of the school's parents to hospitality at a Premier League game at Selhurst Park.
The parent knew a bit about football, he was Ron Noades and he invited the squad (15 boys) and coaching staff to watch what was to prove a crucial match for both clubs. Palace really had to win to stave off relegation from what the first ever Premier League season and the visitors (Manchester United) needed to win to be champions. Palace lost 0-2, Hughes and Ince scored and United were 10 points clear, Palace were relegated.
(United squad: Schmeichel, Parker, Bruce, Pallister, Irwin, Ince, Cantona, McClair, Kanchelskis, Hughes, Giggs, Robson.)
On April 21st we went to Selhurst Park and after the game we retired to the hospitality lounge only to bump into a number of the "Class of '92", the Manchester United Youth team including Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Butt and probably Savage (if he wasn't sulking), who had been at the match as a treat also. They lost the Youth Cup to Leeds that year 1-4. In 1991-2 Man U had won the Cup 6-3 beating Crystal Palace!
Giggs played in some serious European matches the following year with visits to the challenging Galatasaray and a defeat to Gothenburg. He was quickly developing into a seriously good professional and perhaps youth success breeds success.
Tonight, with Manchester United going into what Jose describes as the "most important game", youth players including Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard are in for a night they will never forget, especially after recent events in the home city. Like Giggs, they have had a good start in life and much to prove.
Ajax also have a young side (on average four years younger than United) and it is a club that has always referred to their youth scheme to support their success in Holland and in Europe. So will Ajax's Kasper Dolberg at 19 years old be a winner or will United in their 64th game of the season conquer all? They will be doing it for Manchester.
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