Ryan Giggs on lockdown, Euro 2020 and opening up his hotel for NHS workers
The football industry has come under pressure during the coronavirus outbreak, but one former player that is helping is Wales manager Ryan Giggs.
The former Manchester United midfielder has opened up his hotels free of charge to key workers in a show of solidarity during thecoronavirus outbreak.
Giggs co-owns two hotels with former team-mate Gary Neville, the Stock Exchange Hotel in the city centre and Hotel Football at Old Trafford, giving access to 176 beds to medical staff.
The 46-year-old's mum worked as a nurse for 25 years and told ITV Wales' Sports Reporter, Beth Fisher that she was the inspiration to close the hotels for NHS staff.
"We had an early steer on what the coronavirus is going to be like because one of our business partners is in Singapore and they got it a little bit earlier so he said we need to be ready for this", he said.
"I didn't know I was this domesticated"
Like many people at home during lockdown, Giggs has spent most of his time doing chores that haven't been done in a while.
"It's strange times and everyones just got to be patient.
"The weather's been so nice, I've been doing a bit of gardening, jet washing.
"I didn't know I was this domesticated! I'm surprised!
Giggs on Euro 2020 being played next year
Giggs was preparing to take Wales on a European adventure this summer.
But like most sporting events this year, Euro 2020 was postponed and will be played next year instead.
If the tournament was going ahead, Wales would have been without Joe Allen.
The midfielder, who was named in the team of the tournament as Wales reached the semi-finals in 2016, sustained a ruptured Achilles whilst playing for Stoke last month.
"I was geared up for this summer. All the arrangements had been made like a pre tournament camp in Portugal. We prepared thoroughly and we were ready.
"I always try to look at the positives", Giggs said.
"I spoke to (Joe Allen) and he was pretty happy! There's no one who loves playing for Wales more than Joe. It would've been pretty disappointing if he missed out. There's a big crop of young players who are pretty new to international football, they'll be a year's more experienced."
Giggs took charge of Wales in January 2018 and had to learn on the job in his first management post.
He added, "I've learnt to go with my gut feeling. There's been times where I've made logical decisions and everyone said 'yeah that's the right decision' but actually in my mind there was something that didn't feel quite right and sometimes I didn't go with that."
He is one of the greatest players to represent Wales, but his appointment was unpopular with many supporters who recall his regular failure to turn out for international duty.
"I'm human so it does affect me", he admitted. "But I'm also quite resilient. It's the sport that we're in. You have to take the rough with the smooth. You have to trust yourself that you're doing the right thing."
Remembering THAT goal against Arsenal
This week marks 21 years since Giggs scored a famous goal against Arsenal in the semi-final of the FA Cup.
The winger picked up the ball from his own half and glided through four Arsenal players before slotting home at Villa Park.
But he admitted he can't show his children the celebration, where he took off his shirt and revealed his chest hair.
"I was in Mark Hughes' Porsche going down to meet Ian Rush, Neville Southall."
A year after his first senior appearance for Manchester United, Giggs was called into the Wales squad and recalls Mark Hughes driving him to training in his Porsche.
Watch the full interview here: