Manchester United need a complete performance to compete with Juventus, warns Ryan Giggs
The former Old Trafford winger is baffled by his old club's inconsistency under Jose Mourinho in recent weeks
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Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United must put together a complete 90-minute performance to get anything from their Champions League game against Juventus on Wednesday, according to club legend Ryan Giggs.
Jose Mourinho’s men were comprehensively outplayed in a 1-0 defeat to the Italian champions at Old Trafford last month and while they have beaten Everton and Bournemouth in their two matches since, they are still struggling for consistency in their performances.
Juventus, in contrast, have been imperious to start the season, winning 13 of their 14 matches in all competitions and surging 10 points clear at the top of Serie A, with marquee summer signing Cristiano Ronaldo contributing seven goals and five assists in his first 11 league appearances.
They also lead Champions League Group H by five points from United at the halfway stage, and Wales manager Giggs warned that his former club have zero margin for error in Turin.
“I've been really impressed with United in the last four or five games, especially second half,” Giggs, who won two Champions League titles at United, said.
“But I don't know what it is. As a United fan you are scratching your head. They have proven they can give anyone a game, but if you don't turn up for 45 minutes you will not win.
“You have to turn up for 90 minutes and United have the players. They were second best the other week, but I think it will be closer on Wednesday.”
United will be without striker Romelu Lukaku for Wednesday’s match due to injury, though the Belgian is well out of form having not found the net for his club since 15 September.
Club captain Antonio Valencia has returned to the United squad, having not featured since 2 October after undergoing mouth surgery.
Juventus will be able to call upon Mario Mandzukic after the striker missed Saturday’s 3-1 win over Cagliari with an ankle problem, but Douglas Costa, Emre Can and Federico Bernardeschi are all out.
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