Soccer:Ryan Giggs is adamant Manchester United's ability to respond to setbacks shows they have the character to be champions.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has conceded that in losing 6-1 at home to rivals Manchester City, being beaten by Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in the Carling Cup and suffering the shattering disappointment of Champions League elimination at the group stage, the Red Devils have given plenty of ammunition to their critics.

Yet the recent response has been amazing.

With eight wins and a draw from their last nine games, United have closed the gap on leaders Manchester City and now trail their neighbours only on goal difference, which has also been cut massively.

Providing they do not suffer yet another unexpected setback against rock bottom

Blackburn on New Year’s Eve, United will end the year on top of the table once more given City are not in action for another 24 hours.

It represents a staggering reversal of fortunes, which Giggs believes is the hallmark of a great team.

“You are going to get setbacks,” he told www.manutd.com. “It’s about how you react to them.

“Thankfully we’ve come back strong.

“They can help in a way. I’ve experienced that throughout my career — you might hit bad form or miss a good chance, and you can’t wait for the next game so you can rectify it.

“I’m sure all the lads felt like that after the City game and after Basle, which was a big disappointment too.”

That feeling of desolation was magnified by the intense criticism that followed, most of which centred around Sir Alex Ferguson’s failure to reinforce his midfield, which seemed to lack an imaginative spark following the retirement of Paul Scholes.

Against that backdrop, it is surprising that United have been carried by their midfield in recent weeks after defensive injury problems mounted.

“You’re always going to get criticism here,” said Giggs.

“If you’re not top of the league there’s something wrong and if you get knocked out of competitions you’re always going to get criticised,” he continued.

“That’s something you just have to get used to. You can’t sulk or moan about it.”

Instead, United have pieced together their season, at least from a domestic point of view, to the extent that they are now able to reflect on their best 18-game points haul for 18 years.

And now they can look ahead to the punishing second half of the campaign, when the pressure is at its most intense, and during which the Red Devils so often find the right answers.

“The experience that the manager, the players and the coaching staff have of what’s required in the second half of the season, as well as the overall hunger and desire to win competitions will help us,” Giggs told www.manutd.com.

“Big players can’t wait for big games and towards the end of the season the games just get bigger and bigger.

“You want that in the run-in — you want to be involved in big games and going for the title. That’s why you become a footballer.”

Having once again stated his lack of interest in the present transfer market, Ferguson will cross his fingers former Rovers defender Phil Jones has recovered from the illness that kept him out of the Boxing Day win over Wigan.

If Jones is fit, it would be the first time he has faced his old club following a summer move to Old Trafford, having been part of the Blackburn side beaten 7-1 in the corresponding fixture last term.

“I’m still a massive fan and have a lot of friends at the club,” Jones told United Review.

“As soon as we come off the pitch I always look to see how Blackburn have got on. I am sure things will improve.

“Unfortunately they are at the bottom of the table now. But they are a lot better than their league position shows.

“We won’t find it easy.

“I know what sort of squad Blackburn has and there are some cracking players there. We can’t take them lightly.”