Fuente : Manchester United
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UNITED: United Veterans Look To The Future

/noticias.info/ Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have seen it all over the last ten years or so at Old Trafford.

The local lads who famously burst onto the scene in the mid-nineties have been part of numerous Premiership and domestic Cup triumphs, as well as the dramatic European Cup victory in 1999.

But along the way there have also been a string of disappointments, none more so than during the last two seasons when United have failed to reach their true capabilities both at home and abroad.

Crashing out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage in consecutive campaigns was hard enough, but seeing Arsenal and Chelsea ease their way to the league title has been an all too bitter pill to swallow.

Now, as the pair enter the latter stages of their decorated careers, they believe the club are on the verge of an exciting new era.

Spearheaded by the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Darren Fletcher, alongside the promising crop of Phil Bardsley, Kieran Richardson and Giuseppe Rossi, the midfielders are confident United's latest group of young stars can steer the club back to the pinnacle of English football.

"Bringing young players through the ranks has always been one of the manager's main priorities," Giggs told ManUtd.com at the launch of Budweiser's True Footwork Tour launch.

"We've always tried to get one through every couple of years and I think we've hit that target when you look at the likes of Wes [Brown], Sheasy [John O'Shea] and Fletch [Darren Fletcher] who have all broken into the first team.

"Being around the dressing room and playing in the first team games can be quite daunting but it certainly helps when there's two or three of you that break through at the same time.

"I'm sure the likes of Phil and Kieran will be hoping to make that step up from the fringes and play more games this season."

When asked to compare the current crop of youngsters to himself and the former graduates of the Class of '92, Scholes says simply: "They're just good players.

"Wayne and Ronaldo have been in the first team for a couple of years now - they're great players who play well and provide goals for you every week.

"There's also the likes of Bardsley, Kieran and Rossi who are doing well too.

"When we broke into the team we just wanted to be part of everything that comes with it and I think they're the same."

In stark contrast to last season when mounting injuries and an opening day defeat at Chelsea virtually put paid to United's Championship challenge before it had even got off the ground, the Reds have begun their 2005/06 league campaign in style.

Impressive victories over Everton and Aston Villa have given them maximum points so far and new goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is yet to pick the ball out of the back of his net having kept two Premiership clean sheets.

Although Chelsea and Arsenal have looked strong in their opening league matches, you sense United are much better equipped this time round and in Giggs and Scholes, they have two of the Premiership's most experienced campaigners.

"We think we've got the quality to match Chelsea and Arsenal," insists Giggs. "It's just up to us to improve our consistency.

"We know they've been more consistent than us over the last couple of seasons, but we've got a strong squad and we're definitely in with a great chance.

"It'll be hard for all three teams, but whoever has that consistency and that run after Christmas when you hit form at the right time will turn out successful.

"I don't think we've ever taken it [winning the league] for granted," adds Giggs. "When you win the title, you find it's even harder to defend it; Arsenal have never been able to defend a Championship and we hope Chelsea face that sort of problem this year."

Scholes echoes Giggs' sentiments, saying: "The last couple of years haven't been great for us but over the next two or three seasons we want to be winning trophies every year again.

"We won the FA Cup last year but it's the league and the European Cup that we want to win the most.

"If we're going to be able to do that then every player needs to play well and, if that happens, I'm sure we'll have a good chance of going close." notas_de_prensa_archivo