Manchester United's players have a special reason for successfully defending their title this season, says Ryan Giggs.

As United prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the Munich air crash, and he approaches Sir Bobby Charlton's club appearance record, Giggs is prepared to experience the most emotional season of his career.

"I think the players want to do well this season because of the anniversary and the supporters will want a big trophy because of it," said Giggs, who returned from United's pre-season tour of Asia yesterday.

"Every Manchester United player knows what Munich and the Busby Babes meant to the history of our club. Everything special about United stems back to that time. It's why we have so many fans around the world.

"To win the European Cup again this season to mark 50 years after Munich would be the most unbelievable tribute. It would be brilliant for the anniversary."

Giggs grew up in Salford hearing about the Busby Babes and his interest was enhanced by getting to know Charlton, a Munich survivor, when he joined the club at 14. As the countdown to the anniversary gets nearer, the emotion gets stronger.

"You are beginning to see a lot of video footage and read a lot about that team, and it has brought it home to me how important they were," said Giggs.

"I find it hard to imagine how the players from that time travelled and played their football.

"Back then, you had to change planes just to get to the other side of Europe. Now, we fly halfway across the world, get taken straight from the plane to the coach and get our own rooms in luxury hotels."

A third European Cup would be the perfect tribute and Giggs added: "We'd like to win another European title. We've come close since 1999 but not been able to take that extra step. We've either not quite been good enough, had injuries at the wrong time or not had that little bit of luck that you need."