Manchester United star Ryan Giggs has admitted his concern that the
exertions of the Fifa Club World Cup, including the extensive travel
time, will have a detrimental effect on their Premier League title
defence.
The veteran Welsh winger confessed that jet-lag has
been issue for him and some of his team-mates which could be twice as
bad an issue when they return from Japan to take on Stoke on Boxing Day.
"I hope it won't have a knock-on effect to our title defence," Giggs was quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.
"We
don't know how it will affect us next Friday. It has been quite
difficult over here. I have not slept much, four or five hours sleep a
night really.
"You just have to prepare the best you can. It is
a bit of a problem. Overall the team looked fit and sharp," he was keen
to stress.
"We have a squad big enough to handle the games over
the Christmas period and we just hope come that game against Stoke we
have got over the jet -lag."
United beat Gamba Osaka 5-3 in a
thrilling semi-final in midweek, setting the stage for Sunday's final
against Ecuadorian outfit Liga de Quito.