EPL: Man United Players lack quality - Ryan Giggs

May 3, 2014 8:04:00 PM
The interim manager was left to chew
over another abject home performance
by last season's champions as the
Black Cats took advantage to seal a
potentially priceless win
Manchester United interim manager Ryan
Giggs bemoaned a "lack of quality and
concentration" for his side's woeful display
in a 1-0 defeat to Sunderland at Old Trafford.
The Mackems' travelling fanbase rejoiced in
what could prove a crucial victory in their bid
to stay in the Premier League while Giggs
and United will have to reflect on a seventh
home defeat this season - the first time they
have managed that ignominious feat since
the 1973/1974 season, when they were
relegated.
Sebastian Larsson ultimately consigned the
hosts to defeat, and Giggs believes his
charges were lacking on two fronts in their
efforts to break through a resilient
Sunderland rearguard.
"[It was] probably a lack of quality in the final
third," he told reporters. "The first half we got
some decent crosses in from [Ashley] Young
but we just didn't get enough people in the
box really.
"The second half we had all the possession
but just couldn't find that key pass or that bit
of quality which would have got us back in
the game.
"I'm sure if we had scored, we would have
gone on to score a few more but it was a
lack of quality and a lack of concentration in
the final third."
Giggs was at a loss, however, to explain just
why United have found few home comforts
from Old Trafford this season.
When quizzed on United's home form, Giggs
said: "I don't know, because I still believe
there's quality in the dressing room and we
showed that last week but we didn't this
week.
"Whether that be a lack of confidence or a
lack of concentration, I honestly don't know.
"We have shown it away from home, good
away form, but Old Trafford seems to have
been the problem this year.
"In past seasons, even today, there would be
wave after wave of shots and you could
always sense a goal was coming but this
season it doesn't seem to have happened."
Giggs also added that United would continue
to "monitor" Wayne Rooney's fitness, with
the striker ruled out due to a combination of
a groin injury and illness.
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, meanwhile,
was delighted that his side were able to inch
closer to survival after a "unique" run of
form, but also urged caution despite the
seemingly doomed Norwich City's
uncompromising fixture list.
"I'm feeling great," he said. "Our idea was
always to win four games. We won three and
drew one but we need to concentrate on
what we do.
"We are in a position where we have two
games at home, we win one and we are over
the line but, as you know, what we have
done in the last four games is unique and
special."