David Moyes still believes that Manchester United can win the Premier League title despite the Reds slipping to a 1-0 home defeat against Newcastle United on Saturday.
It was the first time that United have lost to the Toon at Old Trafford for 41 years with a run of four league games without win, leaving them seven points adrift of the top four and 13 off league leaders Arsenal.
But, despite their points tally leaving them closer to the relegation zone than the top spot, David Moyes remained defiant amid the growing pressure.
“I stand firm we will be very close,” he said. “I hope we are in it at the end of the season.”
When pressed as to why he was feeling so confident, particularly after sections of the crowd booed his team off after Saturday’s game, Moyes insisted that he has faith in his players to pull off a seemingly impossible comeback.
“The players – because I am working with the champions,” said the Scot.
“It’s the same players that won the Premier League last year – everybody’s aware of that.”
Conversely, while some quarters of the Old Trafford crowd are less than enamoured with the recent run of results, the manager thanked those who stayed after the final whistle to show their support.
“I think the United fans have been great. Great to me, and great to the club,” said Moyes.
“They understand there is a big transition going on here. I don’t think they, or me, expected us to have lost five games at this time of the season. But I think they understand totally there is a change going on.”
It has been United’s worst start to a season for 30 years, with rumours of a Robin van Persie transfer request just one of many media storms that have been swirling around Old Trafford recently concerning the players’ adjustment to the ‘Chosen One’.
Jonny Evans, who endured his own bout of criticism from the United faithful before becoming a regular first-team starter, put the Champions’ poor run down to a dearth of confidence.
“Usually whenever we’re chasing a goal at Old Trafford, especially at the Stretford End, we put teams under an enormous amount of pressure,” he said.
“With the lack of confidence and creativity we didn’t produce that. It is hard to put your finger on it.
“But we won’t give up. We are professionals. We want to keep going until the end.”
United face Shakhtar Donetsk at home on Tuesday night, a game in which they only need to take a point to seal first place in their Champions League group.
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