David Moyes has thanked Sir Alex Ferguson for giving him the opportunity to manage Manchester United, and says he will remain “proud” of his ten-month relationship with the club.
The 50-year-old issued his first public statement a day after his dismissal on Tuesday, admitting results at the club “have not been what fans are used to or expects.”
To have been appointed as manager of Manchester United was and remains something of which I will always be incredibly proud. I remain grateful to Sir Alex Ferguson for believing in my ability and giving me the chance to manage United… David Moyes.
The Scot signed two players -Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata- during his time as the ‘Red Devils’ boss, but failed to maintain the club’s rich tradition of success at home and on the road.
United lie seventh on the league standing after 34 games, guaranteed to finish the season with their lowest ever Premier League point tally.
They are set to miss out on Europe’s elite club competition, the Champions League, next season and could as well fail to qualify for the Europa League altogether for the first time since 1990.
“I both understand and share their frustration,” says Moyes in a statement. “I have always believed that a manager never stops learning during his career and I know I will take valuable experience from my time as United manager.”
Moyes said following Ferguson, who led the club to wining 13 league titles and two European Cups, in his 26 year reign as manager, was always going to be a “significant challenge”.
“Taking charge after such a long period of continuous stability and success at the club was inevitably going to be a significant challenge, but it was one which I relished and never had a second thought about taking on,” he continues.
“The scale of the manager’s job at United is immense, but I have never stepped away from hard work and the same applies to my coaching staff. I thank them for their dedication and loyalty throughout the last season.”
Meanwhile the League Manager’s Association (LMA) says it is “very disappointed” with the nature of David Moyes’s sacking at Old Trafford, particularly the fact the former Everton boss was not informed before press reports broke on Monday.
“Throughout his time at United, David, as always does, has conducted himself with integrity and professionalism, values that he believes in and that have been strongly associated with club and its rich tradition.
“It is therefore sad to see the end of David’s tenure at United being handled in an unprofessional manner,” says the LMA in a statement.
Club legend, Ryan Giggs, 40, has taken temporary charge of first team affairs but is not in the running to become the coach on a full-time basis.
Louis van Gaal leads the boomakers’ rating to take over the vacant position, followed by Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti.
