• Premier League

Moyes: Far East welcome like Beatlemania

Manchester United manager David Moyes has compared the reception his side received when they arrived in Thailand to Beatlemania in the 1960s.

The Premier League champions were met with a rock star's reception as they flew to the Far East to begin their pre-season tour, with Moyes clearly swept away by the levels of support for United in that part of the world.

"We arrived at the airport and I heard screaming young ladies, but I don't think it was at me," he said with a smile. "The amount of people who were at the airport was incredible and the excitement when we arrived was like The Beatles. It was something else.

"There are fans in and outside the hotel and everywhere we go. It just shows the power of United. I don't know if I'll ever get used to it. I've not been surprised, but the scale of things has been fantastic.

"When I first got the job I was aware my first game would be in Thailand. You see the amount of Manchester United supporters in Thailand so I'm looking forward to being here and hopefully it's just the first of many games as manager."

Moyes admitted he is relishing the challenge of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, with the quality of the players he has inherited filling him with confidence.

"I'm really excited but I'm more excited about the players I'm working with," he added. "They'd lift any coach but they've certainly lifted me because I see the ability, their professionalism and their commitment to be winners.

"Every training game we play they want to win and I think that says something about Manchester United players and their attitude."

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