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Ryan Giggs: Wales manager instilling 'Man Utd DNA' - Kasper Schmeichel

By Dafydd PritchardBBC Sport Wales in Aarhus

Last updated on .From the section Walescomments100

Leicester City and Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel
Leicester City and Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel will win his 40th international cap if he plays against Wales on Sunday

Ryan Giggs has instilled in his Wales side the attacking footballing "DNA" of his former Manchester United teams, says Denmark keeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Wales marked Giggs' first competitive match with a dazzling 4-1 win over the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.

Up next are Denmark, whose preparations for Sunday's Nations League match were marred by a dispute between their football association and players.

"You can see the flair and spark they play with," said Schmeichel.

"It's very similar to the DNA he inherited at Manchester United. It's going to be very interesting to see what he can bring.

"He's got a very talented squad with Wales. It's something Gary Speed started and Chris Coleman did really well, and now Ryan is putting his own stamp on it."

Leicester goalkeeper Schmeichel knows as well as anyone how close a resemblance Giggs' Wales team may bear to the United sides he played for with such distinction over two decades as a world-renowned left winger.

One of Giggs' team-mates at Old Trafford was Schmeichel's father, former United keeper and Denmark great Peter Schmeichel.

Denmark's manager Age Hareide has also noticed a likeness between Giggs' former club side and the young national team now under his tutelage.

"It's like Ryan Giggs has created a copy of the old Manchester United team," said Hareide.

"I've seen United a lot during the years. When I was the coach at [Norwegian club] Molde, I sold Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to Sir Alex Ferguson [when he was Manchester United manager] and I was at United a lot after that time.

"Also when I coached Norway, I had him [Solskjaer] in the national team. I watched [United] training and the way Wales play, the enthusiasm in their play offensively, they're very quick between the lines and they go forward with a lot of people.

"So that looks like United in the best period under Alex Ferguson. In many ways Ryan Giggs adopted what he learnt from many years there, and he knows the style, so it's natural for him to adopt the best of Manchester United."

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  • Comment posted by Domrugby10, at 09:48 9 Sep 2018

    I'm English - Just read an article on England and how they won't trust Phil Foden in midfield because he's only 18. Respect to Giggs for picking Ampadu (17) and his man of the match performance.

    Taking a risk and playing attacking football is what I want to see, not the defensive minded England with 5 at the back.

  • Comment posted by 8l23ub, at 08:55 9 Sep 2018

    Giggs was always United's out ball from defence, he could run with the ball at his feet. Gareth Bale can run with the ball at his feet, players like those two are like gold dust, good defenders don't like playing against them. The rest of the team can have impeccable passing and ball control, but its the dribblers who make the difference.

  • Comment posted by scarletbard, at 09:24 9 Sep 2018

    Wales currently have a breed of youngsters who have the good fortune to learn from the older guys.. Including Giggsy, even though he wasn't my first choice as Wales Gaffer.
    Todays game should give a better idea of where Wales stand at the moment and what needs improving.
    Quietly optimistic
    Good luck guys

  • Comment posted by AmKreuz, at 08:49 9 Sep 2018

    As a Wales fan it’s easy to admit we can get carried away at times, but I have the same feeling with this new group emerging as the ones who beat Norway 4-1 at the end of the Legend, Gary Speeds tenure.

    Denmark will be a tough test for us and even if we lose, I’d just like to see the same creativity as we displayed against Ireland.

    Hopefully Ampudu, Brooks and Roberts play the same!

  • Comment posted by troberts3891, at 09:31 9 Sep 2018

    Ryan Giggs can keep his DNA to himself, this time...

    Seriously though, dislike the man, but he is doing a good job for Wales. I am glad he's giving the kids a chance.

  • Comment posted by peter55555, at 08:44 9 Sep 2018

    To be fair Giggs hasn't been afraid to play youngsters (who haven't let him down) and intelligently not changed much in the coaching set-up. We look great going forward but defensively we're no Man UTD yet. Denmark a real test.

  • Comment posted by geldawg, at 09:30 9 Sep 2018

    Very true. The way Wales played played reminded me of UTD during the 2008 campaign, with 3 interchanging forwards, a defence covering deep playmaker and width from the full backs. Obviously not the same standard of players (although I do think Ampadu will reach that level, plus Bale is in the world top 10 easily) but you can see from a footballing point of view what Kasper Schmeichel is saying.

  • Comment posted by Free Kick, at 11:55 9 Sep 2018

    Posted by 33. 7456

    "He deserves to fail at whatever he does"

    As Giggs has a fabulous array of winners medals, with.....

    13 x Premier League
    4 x FA Cup
    3 x League Cup
    2 x UEFA Champions League
    1 x FIFA Club World Cup
    1 x Intercontinental Cup
    1 x UEFA Super Cup
    9 x FA Community Shield

    I'd say the good wishes conveyed in your comment are a tad late.

  • Comment posted by Bellisimo, at 09:23 9 Sep 2018

    A greater test than Republic awaits today-a true indication of where Wales are, but you have to say that Wales do not fear Denmark today. Fed up of all the crap English supporters give regarding Wales as being a One man team. Bale is the truly only World class British player at the moment. So i suggest that even the mighty England would be a one man team if he was English too! So shut up lloegr

  • Comment posted by Voice of reason, at 09:57 9 Sep 2018

    Good luck to Giggs if only that if he becomes successful he can come back to Old Trafford and reinstall that DNA again.

  • Comment posted by peter55555, at 09:58 9 Sep 2018

    Risk taking is a necessity for wales given resources and the media and fans accept that there'll be highs and lows. England can't and never have done...the expectation and fear of failure is too great. What they need is for the top PL players to strike and then they might uncover some gems from their really competitive championship or lower leagues.

  • Comment posted by geldawg, at 09:35 9 Sep 2018

    @15
    Completely agree, If Wales were a one man team then Bale would have scored all 4 on Thursday!

  • Comment posted by SAF2008, at 08:36 9 Sep 2018

    Far too early to make any sort of judgements but will be interesting to see their style of play and results.

  • Comment posted by Kobra Kev, at 10:26 9 Sep 2018

    Way too early to judge what type of team Wales will be under Giggs but I was impressed with our style of play against the Republic. I thought some of the youngsters might have crumpled from the Irish physical challenge but they more than held their own. Denmark will be a completely different challenge to the opening game. I’m not sure how strong we are defensively so this will a good test to see.

  • Comment posted by AF83, at 11:27 9 Sep 2018

    If Wales do play like the Manchester United of old under Fergie it's a toss up between him & Zidane for the Manchester United job.

  • Comment posted by DaveP1982, at 09:29 9 Sep 2018

    Typical of the media to hype everything up after one good performance. Giggs is lucky that he has has a quality player in Bale who is passionate and wants to play for his country when he himself cried off 50-60 times if not more. All that DNA stuff after 4 games is rubbish!

  • Comment posted by Disenchanted, at 12:29 9 Sep 2018

    to be fair Wales played very well the other night but lets all have a reality check ROI were truly abysmal, pathetic... the game was on a par with England vs. Panama... you can't judge much on it...

  • Comment posted by U15708717, at 12:07 9 Sep 2018

    A Welshman that's proud of his country managing our team can only be a good thing. Doing ok so far, wish them all the best for the future. Da lawn!!

  • Comment posted by Rich, at 11:34 9 Sep 2018

    Bluebird63 - his adopted nation? Do explain!

  • Comment posted by Welsh_Dragon_1971, at 11:17 9 Sep 2018

    #41. Do you include England in the mid ranked teams? After all, they haven't achieved anything better than a fourth placed finish in a competition since 1966! Doing well every 28 years or so does not make you a top ranked team! You may not have meant your comment to be arrogant or condescending, but that is how it appears!

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