Munich legacy must be remembered, says Giggs

Manchester United players need to remember the legacy of those affected by the Munich air disaster because the aftermath of the tragedy is part of what makes the club great, Ryan Giggs said on the 55th anniversary yesterday.

United's current players, including new striker Robin van Persie, recently watched a DVD about the crash, in which 23 died as the squad, fans and journalists returned from a European Cup match in Belgrade.

Eight players and three members of the United staff were among those who died after their plane crashed as it tried to take off following a refuelling stop in Munich.

"New players, especially the foreign players, are joining a club which they think is great and offers them everything that comes from United being successful over the last 10 to 15 years," Giggs said. "We all watched a DVD about Munich recently. It was really important for the squad to watch that and learn about what happened.

"Not only about the crash itself, but also the success they had before it and how the team moved forward in the aftermath, from winning the next game to winning the European Cup 10 years later. Everyone was moved."

The Premier League leaders also listened to a talk by Bobby Charlton, who survived the crash along with manager Matt Busby, who had to quickly rebuild a team amid the grief.

"I think it's very important to know how the Busby Babes played and how successful they were before the air disaster and to know how Sir Matt built another great team," added Giggs, 39, who has been at United since 1987.

"There are so many things that are relevant to us today and we need to carry on their legacy."