Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is delighted with Ryan Giggs' conversion to a central midfielder.

The 38-year-old was already settling into a more central midfield role when that magnificent night for United at the Luzhniki Stadium came around.

Now Giggs is fully integrated, to the extent Ferguson thinks of him as a key operator in his engine room.

"His use of the ball has got better with age," said Ferguson.

"Changing his position to play in a more central area has given a different aspect to his game.

"We always remember what Ryan was famous for, going up and down that touchline, running at full-backs with great balance and speed.

"Today it is a different Ryan Giggs.

"He still has that change of pace and a wonderful balance but he is not as quick as he was 10 years ago and has looked at his game a different way."