Former Manchester United No2 Rene Meulensteen admits speaking with Ryan Giggs about being No2 to Louis van Gaal.

Meulensteen is no fan of his fellow Dutchman.

But on Giggs, he told the Telegraph: "I said to Ryan: 'I'm so glad you're staying at the club in this role because you're the one holding on to this life-line to the Ferguson era but I'm telling you it's going to be the most difficult three years ahead of you'.

"The lifeline is the connection to Ferguson, and what Ryan grew up with, the DNA that Ferguson put in the club. If Giggs leaves the club, that's it, done, gone, forget it, he's the last one holding on to it. It would be a very sad moment."