Giggs sees United thriving long after he has gone

Ryan Giggs's contribution to Manchester United this season has been significant enough for him to have collected the English players' Player of the Year award.

But the veteran Welsh winger believes the current United squad will continue to thrive, long after he has called time on a career that has already delivered 11 Premier League winners' medals and a record number of appearances for his one and only club.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team have already wrapped up a third consecutive Premier League title and they are looking to retain their Champions League crown with another final against Barcelona.

Having already lifted European football's biggest prize twice, Giggs knows that, at 35, there will not be too many more evenings like Wednesday in Rome. But he is confident that the youthful nature of United's current squad means that the club could be in for several years of domestic and European dominance.

Aside from Giggs, Ferguson has regularly used veterans Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes in recent years. But this season's progress has been notable for the emergence of several promising youngsters.

Brazilian full-back Rafael has made a major impression and Northern Ireland defender Jonny Evans has made more than 30 appearances. The United boss has also used the likes of Darron Gibson and Rodrigo Possebon in midfield and Federico Machedo and Danny Welbeck in attack. And it is that injection of youth that Giggs feels could set United up for years to come.

But Ferguson feels that the arrival of former Barcelona player Pep Guardiola as coach at the Nou Camp has brought an extra edge to the Spanish champions. Barcelona are known for their attacking brilliance but the United manager thinks that Guardiola has added a stronger defensive base.

Barcelona are hoping that Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry can both overcome injuries to feature in Rome. And Ferguson believes that they are both crucial to the Spanish club's hopes. Ferguson is hoping that Rio Ferdinand can prove his fitness for the game in Italy by overcoming a calf problem in time to face Hull on Sunday.

The England defender has missed United's last three matches and Ferguson does not want to risk the centre-back against Barcelona if he has not had any match action for three weeks.