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Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring on Saturday. ( EPA-Yonhap) |
MANCHESTER, England (AP) ― After a sleepless night before his managerial debut, Ryan Giggs saw his Manchester United team reawaken Old Trafford with a comfortable victory over Norwich on Saturday to end a tumultuous week that started with David Moyes’ dismissal.
United asserted itself over Norwich after a tedious start, with Wayne Rooney scoring twice ― the first from the penalty spot ― and Juan Mata also netting a brace after coming off the bench to complete a 4-0 win in the English Premier League.
“I should retire now, a 100 percent record,” Giggs quipped.
The 40-year-old midfielder, who dropped himself from the match-day squad, is likely to have just three more games as player-manager, with United looking to appoint a more experienced successor to Moyes.
“The reception was great. I’ve walked out of the tunnel so many times in big games. That’s the best feeling I’ve had, I felt so proud,” Giggs said. “Did I sleep last night? No.”
It was a day all about restoring pride after Moyes inherited a team that won the league by 11 points under Alex Ferguson last May and took it down to seventh in the standings.
But while United is frustrated to be out of the four Champions League places, Norwich’s position is far more precarious ― fighting against relegation. A seventh straight loss left the team just a point and a place above the relegation zone.
Swansea virtually secured Premier League survival and West Bromwich Albion moved closer to safety on Saturday.
Jonjo Shelvey scored an eye-catching volley in a 4-1 victory for 12th-place Swansea over Aston Villa, which is just four points and two places from the drop zone. Saido Berahino gave West Brom a 1-0 victory over West Ham that took the team five points clear of danger.
But Fulham threw away a two-goal lead at home to Hull to draw 2-2 and remain in the drop zone.
