David Moyes talk with Wayne Rooney during a Barclays premier League match. PHOTO/FILE
In Summary
Moyes was axed towards the end of last term after less than a season in charge at Old Trafford.
London. David Moyes claims Manchester United failed to do the right thing when they sacked him after less than 10 months.
Moyes was axed towards the end of last term after less than a season in charge at Old Trafford.
The Scot oversaw United’s dismal slide from
champions in Alex Ferguson’s final season before retirement to an
eventual seventh-place finish which was the club’s worst of the Premier
League era.
However, former Everton manager Moyes, who had
been hand picked by Ferguson as his successor, maintains United should
have had more faith that he would eventually get the team back on track
during his six-year contract.
“I got the job and I expected it to be a six-year
plan. I signed a six-year contract... disappointed it didn’t go to
plan,” Moyes told the BBC on Friday.
“I expected to be given an opportunity to fulfil that and it wasn’t what was expected.
“It was really difficult when I lost the job
initially because I didn’t really see it coming, even though I had been
losing games.
“I knew that it could be difficult but I joined a
club that I felt stood behind their managers, made sure they supported
them in difficult times - Sir Alex had difficult times when he first
took over.
“I do understand that the landscape has changed a
little bit in football but I think that United always stood for the
right things and I expected them to do what was right with me.”
Despite the chastening experience at United, Moyes
is looking to get back into management when the right job comes along,
after turning down approaches to speak with other clubs in recent
months.
“I have enjoyed the time off but I have got to wait on the right job and make sure it’s one that I want,” Moyes added.
“I would never have left Everton for anybody but
an ambitious football club and I thought Manchester United would have
given me that opportunity.
“It didn’t materialise that way so I am hoping that the next
club I join gives me the chance to build a team, because I think that is
what I am good at.
“I’ve had several people contact me about jobs. None of them have turned round and said ‘here is a job it’s yours’.
“But people have asked me if I have had any
interest in jobs. The clubs that have come calling, I just felt that
they weren’t right.”
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Louis van
Gaal believes his players are starting to understand what he wants from
them three months into his Old Trafford reign.
But the Dutchman said Friday there was still room
for improvement and for a greater balance between defence and attack in
his side as they look to recover from a slow start to the season.
Van Gaal admitted on his arrival in English
football that it would take time for his ideas to be implemented by a
squad which has been significantly re-shaped since United finished a
relatively lowly seventh in the Premier League last season.
However, three wins in their last four games and a
place in the top four of the Premier League ahead of the weekend games
suggests United are making progress, although van Gaal is not fully
satisfied yet.
“I think they do understand the philosophy but
they have to perform that philosophy,” said van Gaal, who arrived at Old
Trafford in pre-season after guiding the Netherlands to third place at
this year’s World Cup in Brazil.
“We have to see if it works at a higher level,” he
said. We need more balance in the team. I said that after the match
against Everton.
“I am looking for balance in the team, not only
spectacular attacking football. When you lose the ball, you must have a
shape as a team and then you can defend more easily. You can kill the
game better.
“That is also a part of the philosophy but that is
also because I am choosing more creative, attacking football players.
We are looking for that balance and, okay, we shall see if the time that
I have had is long enough.”
- Vulnerable defence -
United have invested heavily in attacking talent
with British record signing Angel di Maria and on-loan Monaco forward
Radamel Falcao -- who both scored in United’s 2-1 win over Everton in
their last game before the international break -- two of their highest
profile signings.
But van Gaal remains concerned that United have
looked vulnerable in the closing stages of games with an injury-hit
defence having to hang on to claim victories over Everton and West Ham,
as well as leaking three late goals to lose against Leicester City.
“We could have done better because I don’t think that we are in balance now,” van Gaal said.
“I’m sorry to say that but that is the truth when
you see Everton in the last 15 minutes or Leicester in the last 15
minutes or West Ham in the last 30 minutes. When you see the first 60
minutes, it’s fantastic.”
When asked by reporters how he feels he is measuring up in the United job, van Gaal joked that he is doing great -- as always.
But he insisted United’s planned revival was a team effort as they looked towards Monday’s match away to West Bromwich Albion.
“I have confidence in myself and my players but
much more important is that the players have confidence in the manager.
It’s tough. I’m not doing that alone, I’m doing it with the staff and
the players.”
After missing up to ten players at times due to
injury in the opening weeks of the season, United are starting to see
increased availability. Only Antonio Valencia, Jonny Evans, Patrick
McNair and Jesse Lingard are definitely out of the trip to the Hawthorns
-- as well as suspended captain Wayne Rooney.
Van Gaal revealed that midfielder Ander Herrera
could even play in a body brace to protect a cracked rib he sustained in
United’s win over West Ham at the end of last month.
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