Ryan Giggs: Manchester United assistant 'relaxed' about future despite Jose Mourinho speculation

Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs has admitted he is "relaxed" about his future.

The 42-year-old Welshman, who took over from David Moyes for four matches in 2014, has continually been linked with taking over from Louis van Gaal at the club where he spent his entire playing career, although the expectation was that he'd take over after the Dutchman's contract was up at the end of next season.

Former manager Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed that Giggs would make a "fantastic manager" but as Van Gaal has come under more and more pressure, the latest odds have seen him drift away from favourite to take over at the club to being behind former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho - the odds-on favourite - and Mauricio Pochettino, who has done such a brilliant job at Tottenham Hotspur.

There have also been rumours that Giggs is tired of being a No 2 and wants his own job soon, and in December he was linked with the then-vacant Swansea City job.

Giggs, the most decorated British player of all-time with 34 major trohpies, has insisted that he is not concerned about his future and that coaching is the "next best thing" to playing.

"I am relaxed about it [my future]," Giggs told The Times. "I am enjoying coaching. I would like to win more games, and be further up the table, but going out on the pitch and putting on sessions is probably the next best thing to playing."

Manchester United face Liverpool at Old Trafford on Thursday night in the Europa League, having crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage. United need to overturn a two goals deficit from the first leg against their bitter rivals.

"As long as we are in the game after an hour, anything can happen," Giggs told The Telegraph at the same event.

"It won’t be easy because Liverpool are a good team and if they score that will make it really difficult for us. But at Old Trafford, on a European night, we always fancy ourselves."