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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Warren Muggleton

Ryan Giggs sends message to Man Utd youngster Axel Tuanzebe after PSG performance

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs has told Axel Tuanzebe how he can secure a place in the starting XI after his performance against PSG.

The Englishman stepped into the Red Devils’ defence as they saw off last season’s Champions League runners-up with a 2-1 win.

It saw Tuanzebe, who spent most of last season on the injury bench following a loan spell at Aston Villa in the 2018/19 season, step into the back-line for Harry Maguire.

The 22-year-old’s performance earned praise from club legend Rio Ferdinand, suggesting he would now be a “first-choice” at Old Trafford.

And Giggs, who won 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues at United in nearly 1,000 appearances, has told Tuanzebe how he can get into the starting XI regularly.

Ryan Giggs has sent a message to Man United youngster Axel Tuanzebe after his performance against PSG (WEBBY & O'NEILL)

Speaking to YouTube channel Webby & O’Neill , Giggs said: “All Axel has got to do now is play games, stay fit, play games, because he’s got all the attributes.

“He can handle the ball, he can even play midfield, we thought about playing him in midfield when he was fit under Louis [Van Gaal].

“He can read the game well, he’s quick, I think he showed that yesterday [against PSG].

The Englishman put in an impressive performance for United in the 2-1 win at the Parc des Princes (2020 Icon Sport)

“But he’s got to play games. And when he plays game his confidence will grow because he’s got all the attributes to be a Man United centre-half.

“Now he’s just got to bang out those games. Once he does that it’s up to him to say to Ole, ‘leave me out of the team, I’m doing so well you can’t leave me out of the team’.

“And that consistency, he’s got to produce performances like that again and again and again.

“I’m sure if he stays fit he’ll be a regular in the first team.

And Giggs told the defender, who had a hamstring injury last season, to 'stay fit' in order to remain in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's starting XI (MI News/NurPhoto)

“When Louis came he was going through a stage like a massive growth spurt, so he had a few injuries, a few niggles.

“He had that time at Villa [on loan], he’s just got to play games now. He’s just got to stay fit because he can handle the ball, he’s quick, he’s strong.”

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