Ryan Giggs has responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic's criticism of the Class of '92 by insisting players with "over 2,000 games between us" are entitled to have an opinion about Manchester United.
Former United striker Ibrahimovic claimed in a newspaper interview that the ongoing loyalty of Giggs and other pundits like Gary Neville and Paul Scholes to Alex Ferguson has fuelled criticism of Paul Pogba.
Ibrahimovic told the Daily Mirror that the criticism of Pogba dated back to his decision to walk away from Old Trafford and sign for Juventus in 2012 when Ferguson was still United manager.
Pogba, who came through United's academy, left the club for free in 2012 after Ferguson fell out with the Frenchman's agent Mino Raiola but returned following a four-year spell at Juventus for a then-world record fee in 2016.
The 26-year-old was criticised for his poor form earlier this season by former players Gary Neville and Paul Scholes, who work as television pundits, and Ibrahimovic said it stemmed from Pogba's decision to leave United and Ferguson for Juventus.
"With Pogba, he was with United when he was young, then he went out and he came back," Ibrahimovic, who played with Pogba at United for one and a half seasons, told the Mirror.
"In the circle of Ferguson, they don't like that because they stayed all their life under Ferguson and they never moved from Ferguson.
"They didn't even talk if Ferguson didn't tell them to open their mouth. So now if they're talking, I don't know whether Ferguson gave them permission or not."
In response, Giggs, who made a record 963 appearances for United between 1991 and 2014, said: "Only Nicky (Butt) is connected with the club now but when you play over 2,000 games between us, we are going to have an opinion.
"Sometimes it's positive, sometimes negative, but it doesn't have an effect on results.
"We are supporters. That's what football is about, having different opinions. But he (Ibrahimovic) obviously knows more about the club than us."
Giggs and his former Class of '92 team-mates - Neville, Scholes, Butt, David Beckham and Phil Neville - actually played a combined total of 3,450 games during the most successful period in United's history.
Despite playing a crucial role in winning the World Cup with France last year, Pogba struggled for form at United this season under former manager Jose Mourinho, who benched the midfielder towards the end of his Old Trafford tenure.
However, Pogba turned his campaign around with nine goals and seven assists in all competitions after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed caretaker boss in December.
"I think Pogba has the potential to be the best player in the world in his position," Ibrahimovic, now with MLS side LA Galaxy, added.
"He's a good guy, he trains hard, he listens, he wants to become better, he wants to win, he wants to perform in every game.
"Things happening outside do not really bother him because when you are at that level, everyone will speak - positive, negative, in between."
