‘I took 15 penalties that week, I didn’t trust myself to put it in the top corner’: Ryan Giggs on the moment he stepped up hit a low Champions League final penalty against Chelsea in 2008… and says he felt no sympathy for English rivals
- Ryan Giggs scored the penultimate penalty in the 2008 Champions League final
- The winger had scored 14 out of 15 in training and always went the same side
- The Welshman revealed he didn’t trust his ability to aim for the top corner
- Giggs also said he felt no sympathy for any of the Chelsea players at full-time
Ryan Giggs has reflected on Manchester United’s 2008 Champions League final win over Chelsea and the penalty he scored before Nicolas Anelka’s deciding miss.
The two English sides could not be separated after 90 minutes and extra time, with the game going to spot-kicks with United eventually coming out on top.
And in the latest instalment of BT Sport’s What Went Down, Giggs explained how United coach Carlos Queiroz had the team practicing penalties all week with the Welshman perfecting his routine.
Ryan Giggs explained how he perfected his penalties before the 2008 Champions League final
The Welshman scored in sudden death with Nicholas Anelka’s subsequent miss the decider
‘It’s not a nice walk,’ the Welshaman said.
‘Your legs feel like lead and all you’ve got to do is remember what you practice because in my experience people miss penalties because they change their mind.
‘That’s what I did all week. So I took 15 penalties that week, I scored 14 and the one that I missed hit the post.
Giggs said he scored 14 out of 15 penalties during a week of training after picking a side
‘So I knew exactly what side I was gonna go, I knew the technique and it was just about sticking to that.
‘You just trust where you’re going to put the ball and if it’s good enough the goalkeeper can’t save it. If it’s along the floor, the goalkeeper can’t get down to that.
‘I didn’t my technique or ability enough to put it in the top corner so mine was always low and hard.’
Giggs also said he had no sympathy for any of the Chelsea players at the end of the game.
‘Did you have any mates in that Chelsea team?’ presenter Jake Humprey asked with the winger pausing before answering ‘No.’
Humphrey continued: ‘So was there any part of you that felt sorry for them at the full-time whistle?’ but it was another firm ‘No’ from the 46-year-old.
The 46-year-old said he had no sympathy for any of the Chelsea players after the game
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