"Above Robben, Duff, Cristiano Ronaldo, above everyone" - Arsenal icon Lauren names Manchester United legend as toughest ever opponent
Arsenal legend Lauren has snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo and named Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs as his toughest opponent. He has stated that the Welshman was better than Arjen Robben, Damien Duff and other the players he went up against on the pitch.
Speaking on the Italian Football podcast, Lauren stated that Giggs made defenders change their tactics to stop him. The former Cameroonian right-back added that the winger was always driving forward with the ball and that one of his best games against the Welshman was at Old Trafford. He said (via Stretty News):
"I always say Ryan Giggs. He was an extraordinary player. Above every player who played on my side. Above Robben, Duff, Cristiano Ronaldo, above everyone. He was a fantastic player. He made you improve your game, challenge your own tactics to stop him. Always driving the ball, so intelligent, he had everything. So I always say one of the best games I ever played for Arsenal was when we won the double against him at Old Trafford."
Lauren faced Ryan Giggs in 15 games and won five of those matches, while losing six times. The Arsenal legend faced Ronaldo just nine times and won thrice, while losing four times.
When Ryan Giggs talked about Cristiano Ronaldo's impact on Manchester United's tactics
Ryan Giggs spoke about Cristiano Ronaldo to beIN Sports in 2020 and stated that the Portuguese star did not have to track-back at Manchester United. He claimed that the winger was one of the few who was given that freedom. Giggs said:
"The players who get away with it are the ones who are match winners, who will win you more games, so you let them get away with it. Cristiano was like that. So what Sir Alex would do, he would play an extra man in midfield, against the likes of Arsenal who were just as good as us. But he would put Darren Fletcher against Ashley Cole because he knew Ronaldo wasn't going to (trackback)."
"Whereas if we didn't track the players would be going crazy so there are players like Hazard, Messi, there's Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar they're all match winners. If you are a top player, you can get away with it, but you have to be special, and you have to win more games than you lose," he added.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs played 204 matches together at Manchester United. They combined for 21 goals – with the Portuguese star scoring 18 of them – and 10 trophies under Sir Alex Ferguson.