When Ryan Giggs says he has high hopes for you at Manchester United, there’s pressure to perform.
When he mentions your name in the same sentence as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, there’s about as much pressure as possible.
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The most decorated player in English football history has voiced his support for United’s summer signing of Dutch winger Memphis Depay, who will play in the same winger position Giggs played in over 900 appearances for the club.
Giggs called the 21-year-old Dutchman a “United type” player, and said he has certain qualities the club has been missing since the days of Beckham and Ronaldo.One thing we probably have lacked since Cristiano - and Becks before him - is free-kicks. And it looks like Depay has a great track record from free-kicks as well.
Over a season, if you can score more from free-kicks and corners it adds up and makes a real difference in winning games. So, no pressure... but hopefully he’ll score 10 free-kicks every year.
[Depay] is the kind Old Trafford will warm to. He’s an exciting player, but there’s also substance behind it. He was top scorer in the Dutch league and got plenty of assists as well.
He’s a “United” type. Our fans demand exciting players, players who can get them off their seats and score spectacular goals.”
Don’t worry Memphis, Giggs said there was “no pressure.”
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While no one is expecting Depay to have a Ronaldo-type impact at United, free kicks are one area of the game that the club could improve on.
Squawka Stats had United ranked eighth in the Premier League for goals that came from set pieces last season, which includes free kicks, corners, throw-ins and penalties. Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal, the three teams that finished ahead of United on the table, all scored more from those dead-ball situations.
