Giggs eyes European lift

Ryan Giggs believes it is time for Man Utd to win the Champions League again.

United have not been triumphant in Europe since the Treble-winning season of 1999 and Giggs accepts they have not quite been good enough over the last eight years.

But the Welshman is confident that, with a little bit of good fortune, United can lift the trophy once more in 2008.

"We have been so close since we last won it and we just haven't gone that extra step," Giggs said at the launch of United's new Charity Foundation in Macau.

"We've either not been good enough or we've had injuries, or not had that little bit of luck that maybe we got in '99.

"You need a full squad, you need luck, and you need to play well. And we've not had all those things together since we won it."

United chiefs are planning a programme of commemorative events to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1958 Munich air disaster.

But Giggs thinks the most fitting memorial would be for the current team to win the Champions League next spring.

He said: "That would be brilliant for the anniversary. It would be unbelievable.

"Everyone knows what it means to the club, the Busby era and what happened at Munich."

Giggs will not play for Wales during the international breaks this season and he expects United to benefit.

"I hope with having retired from international football, I will be a lot fresher throughout the season and will be able to play a lot of games," he explained.