Tag: Moyes

David Moyes has come in praise of midfielder Juan Mata, who scored his first goal for Manchester United in the 4-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday. This was a major relief for the Spaniard, who came to Old Trafford in a £ 37.1 million deal. He is the club’s record signing at the moment, but so far, he has contributed only a couple of assists. Many have criticised Moyes playing Mata out of position on the wings. He was at his best for Chelsea in a more central role. However, the absence of Robin van Persie due to injury has made Mata return to a central position against Aston Villa.

Most of the time, he was utilised in a free role against Villa. He created havoc by creating and scoring opportunities. The game also marked the first goal for United. After the match, Moyes said that the 25-year-old deserved this goal for the performances he has put in since coming to United. Mata has been one of the best players in the Premier league over the last couple of years, but he found himself on the fringes of the first-team at Chelsea after the arrival of José Mourinho. He was allowed to leave for United in the January transfer window.

“He’s deserved it. His play has been very good. He’s made a difference to the team, he’s helped the team. Goals were one of the reasons we bought him. He’s always scored goals, he’s got a very good goalscoring record. I think he was probably feeling it a little bit – he missed a chance in midweek, missed two good chances against West Ham – so I think there have been signs, the opportunities have been coming for him to score goals,” said Moyes, whose own pressure has been lifted because of this win.

David Moyes has stated that he is thankful of the support shown by the fans during his troubled times at Manchester United. He has said this in an emotional letter ahead of the club’s trip to West Brom on Saturday. This match precedes a difficult run of fixtures, which will see United take on the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in the next five matches. Moyes is under a lot of pressure after losing the first leg against Olympiakos. As a result, the club are in danger of being knocked out of the Champions League for the second consecutive season at the last 16 stage itself.

There were beaten by Real Madrid at this stage last season, but this defeat will be much more embarrassing since United were expected to comfortably progress to the quarter-finals. Further, they have been struggling in the league throughout the season and they are currently seventh in the table. The prospect of United finishing in the top four looks very unlikely and it would be the first time they miss out on the competition in a very long time. There have been the fans turning against Moyes, as he has been able to get just three wins since the turn of the year.

Moyes, though, is looking to win back the supporters with this emotional letter ahead of a major month.

“While I knew that this job would be a challenge when I took it on, the difficult season we have experienced was not something that I envisaged, which I am sure is the case as well for you supporters – and my players, staff and I are desperate to compensate for that. You are accustomed to seeing a successful Manchester United and the backing you have given the players and me throughout the season has been incredible,” said Moyes.

After a tough start to his Manchester United career, it seems that David Moyes is finally settling down as the manager of the club. United have gone eight matches unbeaten in all competitions. This plan has helped them reduce the gap at the top of the table to just five points. Coach Phil Neville, who came to United along with Moyes, has said that the former Everton manager is finally showing signs of steel, which made him hugely successful at Goodison Park. He has also said that players are starting to go to the training methods of the Scot.

Since this was the first managerial change for the club in 26 years, they were expected to struggle this season. However, the prospect of even qualifying for the Champions League looked difficult at one stage. The defeats against West Brom and draw with Southampton at home have been the last few bad results for the club. They appear to be finding the consistency that made them incredibly successful under Sir Alex Ferguson. Neville has said that Moyes will be able to implement his own style with time.

He has seen enough of the Scot at Everton to suggest that he will be successful. Moyes is still has to find the way to make United score more goals.

“Defeat by West Brom was a real wake-up call for the players and manager. The players are beginning to trust the manager and his philosophy and I think you saw that against Arsenal. It was always going to take a bit of time after one man had controlled the club for so long, there was always going to be a transition period. His [Rooney] level of performance not just in games but in training has been first class,” said Neville while speaking to BBC’s football focus.