Ryan Giggs has insisted he has not given any thought to the prospect of succeeding Louis van Gaal as Manchester United manager, but that he may need to leave the club one day to fulfill his ambitions.
As the club's record appearance maker (963), the 40-year-old knows everything about the Old Trafford outfit and, after the sacking of David Moyes, Giggs took over as caretaker for four matches -- winning two with one defeat and one draw -- at the end of last season.
Van Gaal has been quoted as suggesting Giggs is perfectly placed to succeed him as United manager, but the Welsh winger who set records galore during his decorated playing career at the club has not ruled out cutting his managerial teeth elsewhere.
"I've been at the club for so long that I'm familiar with the club but if I want to further my coaching career or managing career and if it's not at Manchester United then so be it but I'll just have to wait and see," Giggs told Sky Sports.
On working for Van Gaal, he added: "He obviously demands a lot, he's somebody who's got plenty of experience, likes to play attacking football, likes to give youth a chance so there's plenty of synergy there with the history of Manchester United and the traditions so it's great to learn from somebody who's managed at the top for so long and just try to learn as I go and try to prove myself as a coach.
"It's an apprenticeship, it's starting all over again. It's a totally different mindset from being the one being spoken to, to actually giving out the instructions, delivering training sessions and doing things throughout the week to prepare for the game."
Giggs believes the pressure of being assistant would be nothing to holding the keys of power at Old Trafford in the top job and is not thinking about moving up anytime soon.
"Taking over at Man United is not something I'm thinking of," Giggs added in an interview with talkSPORT. "I'm learning all the time. The more I learn the better prepared I am for whatever I do, wherever that may be."
"You can do all the coaching badges and leadership stuff but actually being there for three weeks was invaluable. I'm serving my apprenticeship again. As a manager you put yourself under so much pressure. The buck stops with you. As assistant manager or coach, you still want to win as much and you still feel responsible, but it's not like the pressure of being a manager because everyone looks to you."
Giggs believes United are "not that far away" from challenging the top sides in the Premier League despite a challenging start to the season, as he suggested consistency of team selection could be the key to a revival for Van Gaal's side.
"We're not too far away," he added. "We've just got to get that consistency. When you look at Chelsea, who are top of the league, their team selection has been consistent all season. We haven't been able to do that.
"Who knows what we're capable of until we get that consistency? We need 20-25 players to choose from week in and week out. When we get that, then we really gauge how well we're going to do."