Ferguson backs Mourinho's decision not to include Giggs on coaching staff

Sir Alex Ferguson has backed Jose Mourinho 's decision not to include Ryan Giggs on his Manchester United coaching staff.

Giggs, United's most decorated player and assistant manager under Louis van Gaal, left Old Trafford at the weekend, ending his 29-year association with the club.

Former United boss Ferguson believes Mourinho was right to bring in his trusted No.2 Rui Fara, who has been with him wherever he has managed.

"You've got to have, in your assistant, someone you have trusted all your life," said Ferguson.

"When I came to United, I brought Archie Knox, because he was a valuable person for me.

“I trusted him 100 per cent. Jose Mourinho has had his assistant for years and, quite rightly, has stuck by his own man. If Jose hadn't had an assistant, I know he would have taken Ryan.

"It's time Ryan stood on his own feet, got out there and accepted the challenge.

"I talk about his poker face. He has a bit of steel about him.

"It's such a highly intense results industry, you need people who go into it to have a bit of steel about them, a bit of character and personality."

Ferguson, who stepped down as United boss in 2013 after 26-and-a-half years at the helm, said Giggs has what it takes to manage at the highest level and succeed.

"I think he is ready to manage and he has a lot of quality," said Ferguson.

"He doesn't want to spoil that quality by going to a club where it is sacking a manager every two minutes.”

Reflecting on first spotting Giggs, as a raw13-year-old winger, Ferguson, speaking to BBC Sport, said: "You knew right away - the way he ran over the ground.

"I referred to it like a cocker spaniel chasing a piece of silver paper in the wind. His feet never seemed to touch the ground."