Man United look to turn corner
8 March 2014 5:51 AM IST
Last season’s Premier League champions languish in seventh place in a difficult first campaign in charge for Moyes since the Scot succeeded Alex Ferguson.
Ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime clash at struggling West Bromwich Albion (1245), who beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford in September, Moyes said it took ‘stronger’ fans to support the club when the going got tough.
‘If you are football supporter you would understand what loyalty is. If you are someone who follows a club passionately then you follow them whether it is doing badly or doing well,’ Moyes told a news conference on Friday.
‘I think at the moment the Manchester United supporters realise there are some changes taking place and they understand their time will come again.’ United have won only 13 of 27 league games and are in serious danger of missing out on Europe’s elite competition next season, sitting 12 points off the Champions League places.
Moyes said his players were working hard for each other. ‘They know they can play better, they will play better,’ he said.
‘We need to get back to creating more opportunities than we have done. We’ve played quite well in games but not scored and taken our chances. Teams have maybe defended and counter-attacked and we’ve lost a goal and are having to chase the game a bit more. ‘I want creativity and think the introduction of Juan Mata and his interplay with (Wayne) Rooney and Robin (Van Persie) that I’ve seen recently has helped that creativity.
‘I want to make sure when the creative players aren’t getting goals, or the chances aren’t coming, we keep the back door shut and don’t concede because then we have to chase the game.’
United have not played since producing an abject display in losing 2-0 to Olympiakos Piraeus in their Champions League last-16 first leg in Athens on February 25. Moyes said the international break has been both helpful and a hindrance as he bids to turn United’s season around.
‘It’s allowed some players to get games. Darren Fletcher got a game with Scotland, Chicharito (Javier Hernandez, Mexico) and Shinji Kagawa (Japan) played too - people who have not featured as much as we would have liked.
Tottenham shackles coming off against Chelsea: Sherwood
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur will take the shackles off against Chelsea on Saturday when they try to win at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 24 years, coach Tim Sherwood said on Friday.
In almost two and a half decades since Spurs striker Gary Lineker headed the winner in a 2-1 victory at Chelsea in 1990, 15 managers have come and gone at White Hart Lane.
Sherwood has cause to be optimistic, though, as Tottenham have collected 29 points on their travels this season and boast the best away record in the Premier League. ‘What’s happened in the past we have to put to the back of our mind, we have to go there and impose ourselves and hopefully we can get a positive result,’ the 45-year-old Sherwood told a news conference.
‘There is absolutely no pressure on the boys, our record is so bad we can go there and take the shackles off and enjoy the day. ‘The motivation of the players will be there, it’s a chance for them to put themselves in the record books.
‘We are confident that we can spring a surprise and it is going to be a surprise if we beat Chelsea at the Bridge.’
Ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime clash at struggling West Bromwich Albion (1245), who beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford in September, Moyes said it took ‘stronger’ fans to support the club when the going got tough.
‘If you are football supporter you would understand what loyalty is. If you are someone who follows a club passionately then you follow them whether it is doing badly or doing well,’ Moyes told a news conference on Friday.
‘I think at the moment the Manchester United supporters realise there are some changes taking place and they understand their time will come again.’ United have won only 13 of 27 league games and are in serious danger of missing out on Europe’s elite competition next season, sitting 12 points off the Champions League places.
Moyes said his players were working hard for each other. ‘They know they can play better, they will play better,’ he said.
‘We need to get back to creating more opportunities than we have done. We’ve played quite well in games but not scored and taken our chances. Teams have maybe defended and counter-attacked and we’ve lost a goal and are having to chase the game a bit more. ‘I want creativity and think the introduction of Juan Mata and his interplay with (Wayne) Rooney and Robin (Van Persie) that I’ve seen recently has helped that creativity.
‘I want to make sure when the creative players aren’t getting goals, or the chances aren’t coming, we keep the back door shut and don’t concede because then we have to chase the game.’
United have not played since producing an abject display in losing 2-0 to Olympiakos Piraeus in their Champions League last-16 first leg in Athens on February 25. Moyes said the international break has been both helpful and a hindrance as he bids to turn United’s season around.
‘It’s allowed some players to get games. Darren Fletcher got a game with Scotland, Chicharito (Javier Hernandez, Mexico) and Shinji Kagawa (Japan) played too - people who have not featured as much as we would have liked.
Tottenham shackles coming off against Chelsea: Sherwood
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur will take the shackles off against Chelsea on Saturday when they try to win at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 24 years, coach Tim Sherwood said on Friday.
In almost two and a half decades since Spurs striker Gary Lineker headed the winner in a 2-1 victory at Chelsea in 1990, 15 managers have come and gone at White Hart Lane.
Sherwood has cause to be optimistic, though, as Tottenham have collected 29 points on their travels this season and boast the best away record in the Premier League. ‘What’s happened in the past we have to put to the back of our mind, we have to go there and impose ourselves and hopefully we can get a positive result,’ the 45-year-old Sherwood told a news conference.
‘There is absolutely no pressure on the boys, our record is so bad we can go there and take the shackles off and enjoy the day. ‘The motivation of the players will be there, it’s a chance for them to put themselves in the record books.
‘We are confident that we can spring a surprise and it is going to be a surprise if we beat Chelsea at the Bridge.’
Next Story
