Ryan Giggs hails Wales' Euro 2020 qualification as 'one of the greatest nights of my life'

Welsh manager reflects on 'special night' after Ramsey's double clinches 2-0 over Hungary in Cardiff

Wales manager Ryan Giggs celebrates after beating Hungary 2-0 at Cardiff City Stadium. Reuters

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey scores their first goal. AP

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey celebrates after scoring their first goal. Reuters

Aaron Ramsey celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal. AFP

Aaron Ramsey celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal. EPA

Wales attacker Gareth Bale goes for goal from a free-kick. Reuters

Aaron Ramsey of Wales scores his sides second goal .Getty

Aaron Ramsey of Wales scores his sides second goal. Reuters

Wales' forward Gareth Bale. AFP

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey scores their first goal. EPA

Wales midfielder Daniel James, right, and Hungary's Botond Barath. Reuters

Aaron Ramsey celebrates after scoring the second goal. EPA

Wales' supporters at Cardiff City Stadium. AFP

Gareth Bale, second right, controls the ball. Getty

Aaron Ramsey celebrates after scoring the firstgoal. Reuters

Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey scores their first goal. EPA

Wales' players celebrate victory and qualification for the Euro 2020 finals. AFP

Gareth Bale, right, and Chris Gunter. EPA

Wales' players celebrate victory and qualification for the Euro 2020 finals. Getty

Wales' players celebrate victory and qualification after the Group E Euro 2020 football qualification match between Wales and HUngary at Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on November 19, 2019. Wales beat Hungary 2-0 to qualify. / AFP / Paul ELLIS

Wales' players celebrate victory and qualification for the Euro 2020 finals. AFP

Wales' players celebrate victory and qualification for the Euro 2020 finals. AFP

The big screen at Cardiff City Stadium after the match. Getty

Wales' Connor Roberts celebrates. Getty

The Wales squad after beating Hungary. Getty

Left to right: Aaron Ramsey, Wayne Hennessey, Gareth Bale and Chris Gunter. EPA

Gareth Bale of Wales consoles dejected Hungary player Gergo Lovrencsics. EPA

Wales manager Ryan Giggs has described his team's Euro 2020 qualification as "one of the greatest nights of my life".

Giggs looked on as his players clinched a place at next summer's finals thanks to a double from Juventus midfielder Aaron Ramsey in a 2-0 victory over Hungary at Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales had to win to succeed in their quest for an automatic Euro 2020 place, and they duly delivered, backing up their achievement in reaching – and then excelling – at Euro 2016.

Giggs followed his predecessor Chris Coleman in guiding Wales to a major championship, and he was understandably elated.

"It is a special, special night," Giggs said. "The lads have showed great determination and quality and a never-give-up attitude. They deserve all the plaudits. There was no room for error, and the quality and concentration they have shown, they deserve it.

"It is one of the greatest nights of my life. Simple as that. I achieved a lot as a player, but it's different as a manager, the pressure you are under and you are helpless as a manager.

"I was never nervous as a player, but as a manager you are. Come game day, it is out of your hands."

Giggs paid tribute to Ramsey, who scored his first Wales goals since September last year – a first-half header followed by a calm close-range finish early in the second period.

"We have missed him," Giggs said . "We have some very good players, but they don't grow on trees – players who make the difference. Aaron tonight was the difference. I am really pleased for him."

Both sides needed victory to progress and Wales drew first blood when Ramsey rose to head home from six metres in the 15th minute after a perfect Gareth Bale cross from the right.

With Hungary pressing for an equaliser, goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey made a crucial double save in the 34th minute when he parried a Dominik Szoboszlai shot from eight metres and then smothered Roland Sallai’s follow up.

Ramsey, who tore Hungary's midfield apart with crisp passing, struck again in the 47th with a close-range drive into the top corner after Kieffer Moore scrambled a Ben Davies free kick into his path.

Hungary were fortunate not to concede more goals as Daniel James curled a shot from the edge of the penalty area inches wide before Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi denied Ramsey a hat-trick with a reflex save.

Giggs was asked if he had won over sceptics, and he said: "I hope so. I'm struggling if it hasn't!

"I asked the players who have been there and done it to climb that mountain again. A lot is made of the younger players, but you can't do it without the older players too.

"Wayne [Hennessey's] double save, Gareth [Bale] putting his body on the line, and it's not easy leaving out Ash [Ashley Williams] who is perhaps the greatest captain Wales have ever had.

"I set out to quality for a major championship, but more than that, to leave Welsh football in a better state than when I took over.

"This is just the beginning. We have seen a lot of young players over the last 18 months, and they can get better – they can definitely get better.

"It probably hasn't sunk in yet. The players can get better with the help of the more experienced lads who aren't over the hill by any stretch of the imagination.

"I didn't think it was a fantastic performance. We showed grit and determination, but our quality on the ball can, and needs to be, better with the quality we possess.

"As a player, you want to [World Cup]. It's different as a manager. This is different. It feels amazing - the group of players I have got and my staff.

"I am a relatively young coach, and I could not have done it without my staff. Together we did it.

"As a player, basically you look after yourself. You are quite selfish, you are. As a manager you have to manage everything, so it's a completely different kettle of fish.

"I didn't think about my playing career, it was all about getting Wales to another championship, as a manager."

Hungary now go into the play-offs for a place at Euro 2020 after seeing their hopes of automatic qualification end.

"We made too many mistakes," Hungary coach Marco Rossi said. "The first goal was a big mistake. Wales absolutely deserved to win. They showed class.

"The guys tried to fight, but at this level it is not enough. "We are a double-faced team in terms of playing at home and away. It is difficult to explain. We have problems playing away."