The Welshman has been mooted as a potential successor to under-pressure manager Louis van Gaal and the former Fulham centre-back believes he will become a great coach
Ryan Giggs has all the qualities required to be Manchester United's next manager, according to defender Chris Smalling.
Louis van Gaal has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks, with portions of the United support calling for the appointment of former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho after Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola will take over in the summer.
Smalling, though, insists that Giggs has the aggressive streak required to thrive in the dugout, and says he has made a seamless transition from player to coach.
“It can be very difficult when you are in the dressing room and amongst lads who were your team-mates. But he has separated that because he’s now with the coaches," he is quoted by the Daily Mirror.
“Obviously we still all talk with him and have a relationship with him, but it is very different now. He is a coach and we are players. He has got that blend spot-on. He wouldn’t let any relationship cloud his judgement.
“Believe me, he is nasty enough to be a manager - as we have seen in training. If we’re playing in a game and he’s not happy, he’ll let everyone know about it.
“He showed that throughout his playing career. And now he’s on the coaching side of things he’s not afraid to show when he’s angry. Everyone knows they are in the wrong.”
Giggs has been backed to replicate Guardiola's ascent from Barcelona player to trophy-winning manager, and Smalling believes he is thriving in his current role after being given greater responsibility by Van Gaal.
“Ryan has all the qualities to be a great coach," he added.
“The manager gives him a lot of responsibility when analysing teams and doing the team meetings. And quite often, when we are playing an 11 v 11 game in training, he will take one of the teams.
“Ryan has that hunger and drive - and he also has respect. He has got everything to go a very long way in the game as a manager. Ryan has got everything right since becoming a coach.”
- Goal