Mata explains why he felt sorry for Moyes at Man Utd

Juan Mata thinks David Moyes was put in an “impossible” position after replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

The Scot took over from club legend Ferguson in 2013 but lasted just nine months in the job before being sacked.

United have appointed three permanent managers since then but their Premier League standing remains around the same as when Moyes departed five years ago, if not worse.

And Mata thinks Moyes remained “classy” until the end at Old Trafford.

“It certainly had to be difficult to replace a figure like Sir Alex Ferguson, the most successful manager in football’s history. It was impossible, in fact,” Mata recalled (via the Daily Mirror).

“The first time I met David was seconds after coming out of a helicopter, as this is how I arrived at Manchester United ’s AON Training Complex. Pretty cool, I know. Bond-style.

“He was waiting for us to land and welcomed me and my family with a big smile and these words: ‘Welcome to a fantastic club, a massive club. The biggest club there is.”

“Then he took us to his office and we talked. ‘Juan, I know what type of player you are, I know what you can bring to the team. I need a player like you who can link the play.’

“When I arrived, late January, the campaign was already halfway gone and things were not going too well. We were seventh in the league.

“Results were not materialising and the atmosphere was not ideal.

“A few months later, after some more disappointing games, the club decided to part with Moyes and chose Ryan Giggs to look after the first team until the end of the season.

“The Moyes era had been much, much shorter than expected.

“Just like André Villas-Boas at Chelsea, he tried his best, as he is a committed and dedicated manager, but we were just not performing well and results were not good enough.

“Even at his farewell, he showed integrity and said goodbye to us in a very classy way, shaking all our hands and looking us all in the eye, wishing us good luck for the future.

“I made sure to thank him for bringing me here and wished him all the best.

“Again, I felt sorry for the man who was leaving, feeling partly responsible as every player does when a decision like this is made.

“Ryan Giggs took charge for a few games, and during the summer the club announced our new manager, Louis van Gaal.”

 

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