• Champions League

I will turn it around - Moyes

ESPN staff
October 2, 2013
ESPN FC: Ukraine pain for Moyes?


David Moyes remains adamant that he can restore Manchester United to winning ways after the troubled beginning to his reign at Old Trafford.

The defending champions have lost three of their first six Premier League games, resulting in their worst start to a campaign since 1989.

But Moyes, whose team face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday night, takes heart from his record at his former clubs, where poor spells were invariably followed by a revival in their fortunes.

He said: "I have been in situations very similar to this at my old clubs Everton and also at Preston.

"You get on and you do the right things. I haven't changed what I have done. I will continue to do that. The results will come. I have no doubt about that."

Moyes accepts that United's huge fanbase and profile means that every defeat generates plenty of headlines.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference in Donetsk, he added: "It is always the thing at Manchester United. Everyone is interested in them. It is a talking point for everybody throughout the world.

"That is why it is, for me, the greatest club. It is a great honour to be the manager. Even our arrival here in Donetsk has been greeted with a lot of supporters at the airport. It is a great thing."

The United manager could bring Robin van Persie back into the starting 11 after the Dutchman, who had missed the previous two games with a thigh problem, came off the bench in Saturday's 2-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion.

"He is fit," said Moyes. "We will make a decision whether we start him. He is as good as anybody I have seen. His football common sense is fantastic and he is a great goalscorer."

Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu believes Moyes' squad rotation has harmed United this season.

United were beaten 2-1 by West Bromwich Albion on Saturday when Robin van Persie and Marouane Fellaini came off the bench, Patrice Evra was an unused substitute and Nemanja Vidic and Rafael da Silva were omitted altogether.

And Lucescu, who has won seven Ukrainian titles in his nine years at Donetsk, believes Moyes' tinkering is a reason for their struggles.

The 68-year-old Romanian said: "There will always be a change of philosophy under a new coach and every coach needs time to work in a proper way.

"This is why David Moyes is facing difficulties at this stage. But we have analysed the United games and we noticed there are always changes in the squad, maybe four or five players [in each game].

"This rotation means the links between the players can be affected and I think turnover can cause a lot of problems sometimes. We have also discovered that here. The other big teams in the English championship, such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, are not rotating the team as much as United and maybe that is a factor."

Download ESPN's new UK sport app, a fresh and powerful new way to follow your favourite UK sports news, scores and video.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close