Failed Manchester United manager David Moyes has slammed the Old Trafford board for sacking him less than a year after handing him the job.
The Scot took over at United as Sir Alex Ferguson’s ‘Chosen One’ in May 2013 after 11 years at the helm of Everton.
However, he was dismissed in April this year, just 11 months into a six-year contract, after enduring a fruitless season.
Speaking to the BBC in his first broadcast interview since his departure, Moyes laid into Ed Woodward and co. for not giving him more time.
“I got the job and I expected it to be a six-year plan,” he said.
“I signed a six-year contract – I was disappointed it didn’t go to plan. I expected to be given an opportunity to fulfill that and it wasn’t what was expected.”
Moyes, whose last game in charge of United was a humiliating 2-0 defeat at the hands of former club Everton, only found out about his sacking from media reports.
“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,” he said.
“I knew that it could be difficult but I joined a club that I felt stood behind their managers and made sure they supported them in difficult times.
“And, you know, Sir Alex had difficult times when he first took over.
“And 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.”
Club legend Ryan Giggs stood in as interim boss following Moyes’ departure with former Bayern Munich and Barcelona manager Louis van Gaal taking charge in the summer.
But the Dutchman got off to a shaky start, losing at home to Swansea before seeing his side get demolished by MK Dons in the Capital One Cup.
The struggles were compounded when United let slip a two-goal lead in a 5-3 loss to Leicester, but new signings Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao and Daley Blind have since helped to steady the ship.
The Reds now have two back-to-back home victories under their belts, but Moyes believes that Van Gaal will need time to change United’s fortunes.
“I daren’t imagine what would have been said about it [if I’d have been in charge for the Leicester game],” Moyes added.
“But Louis Van Gaal has got a difficult job as well, just like I did when I took over at the job, and he needs to be given that opportunity to get his mark on the team, turn it around.
“He is a very experienced manager and he should be given that chance to do so.”
It wasn’t all doom and gloom at Old Trafford last season however.
Despite their lowly league standing of seventh, Moyes, who managed Preston before taking his spell at Goodison Park, did manage to guide United to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Unfortunately, his side were unable to overcome Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, but the 51-year-old admitted he enjoyed the European experience, claiming that he is looking to get back into management.
“Getting to the quarter-final in the Champions League wasn’t a bad feat,” he said.
“I really enjoyed it – embraced it, actually loved the Champions League nights and we did well.
“We came up against Bayern Munich and we were a little bit unfortunate not to get ourselves through.”
Since he’s exited the dugout, the Scot has indulged in other sporting pursuits, but he insists that he is looking to get back into football – with the right club.
“When you’re in the job, you’re full-on all the time. I’ve played some great golf courses, enjoyed a bit of horse racing, spent a bit of time with the family so it’s been good.
“But I’m really ambitious, I would never have left Everton FC 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.”
Image courtesy of BBC via YouTube with thanks
