Football
Arindam Rej, Man United Correspondent 7y

Ryan Giggs would pick Nicky Butt as Man Utd assistant from 'Class of '92'

Ryan Giggs has said that Nicky Butt is the member of the "Class of '92" who he would want as his assistant -- should he become Manchester United manager in the future.

Giggs was assistant manager to Louis van Gaal for two years up until the summer, when he was replaced by Rui Faria after Jose Mourinho took over from the Dutchman.

When asked which member he would pick from United's famous "Class of '92" -- which includes Butt, Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Gary Neville and Phil Neville -- the Welshman told Sky Sports' Soccer AM: "What a question that is. Do I have to answer that? I think Nicky. He's the [United] academy director so he's already there. It's the natural progression."

Butt, who was earlier this month named as interim boss for United's reserve side, was part of Giggs' coaching team during his spell as caretaker manager at Old Trafford after David Moyes was dismissed in April 2014.

Giggs was interviewed for the Swansea City job before Bob Bradley was appointed earlier this season.

While the United legend seeks a managerial role, he has been busy with TV work and observing other clubs.

Discussing working with Van Gaal, Giggs said: "It was different in a lot of respects to what I'd been used to under Sir Alex for so long, but I learned how to set up a team and different coaching sessions. Like anything, there were bits that you would take and bits that you wouldn't."

The former United winger also denied that he struggled to get his views across while working with Van Gaal.

"It's not about biting your lip," he said. "And it wasn't just me, there were other coaches. You put your point across. Sometimes Louis would go with it and sometimes he wouldn't.

"He was the manager, he was the boss, and once Louis made that decision, you went with it -- even if you didn't necessarily agree with it. As an assistant, it can be frustrating at times but also it's a great job to have because ultimately the pressure isn't on you.

"But if you've got ambitions to be a manager, you realise it and you're close to seeing what it's really like."

The 42-year-old also revealed that he is in close contact with former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

"I speak to Sir Alex all the time," he said. "He's been such a big influence on my life and football career so why wouldn't you? If he sees me linked with clubs then he'll ring me up and we'll have a chat. I speak to him more now than when we were working together."

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