Saturday 29 March 2014

Bring on Bayern - Moyes ready for Munich Challenge

The Red Devils have had endured a difficult domestic campaign but their Scottish boss is excited by the prospect of pitting his wits against Pep Guardiola


Moyes insists his Manchester United side are ready for the challenge of Bayern Munich in the Champions League following Saturday's 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

United claimed their first win in the league at home since January as goals from Juan Mata, Chicharito and two from Wayne Rooney ensured the hosts would come from behind to defeat Paul Lambert's side at Old Trafford.

And Moyes, who had earlier witnessed a plane fly over Old Trafford carrying a banner with the words 'Wrong One - Moyes Out', is now relishing Tuesday's meeting with Champions League favourites Bayern. He told BT Sport: "I'm really looking forward to it. The Champions League quarter-finals.

"At the start if you said we'd get to the quarters then great but we want to be in the semi-final and then the final. But we've got a big tough game against probably the best side around. But bring the challenge on and coming to old Trafford is not easy for any side.

"I've been saying all the time I've been here the crowd have been great. We didn't start well but the crowd were great. Every fan I bump into they tell me they know exactly what it's like at Man United.

"The fourth goal is the type I've been looking to score. Adnan [Januzaj] weaving away and it was a great cross. You want to be excited by the football you see and the fourth goal excited me."

On Rooney, Moyes added: "He's a top player and he's been great since the start of the season. I said after the game if you keep scoring two goals a game then it's going to give us a great chance of doing much better. His form and the way he's playing has been great."

Moyes also hailed Mata's performance after the playmaker scored his first goal for the club since becoming the club's record signing after joining from Chelsea in January. He continued: "Everyone knows what he's capable of but he needed a goal because it's a big part of his game and it's a reason we signed him because he scores goals.

"He's been instrumental in a lot of our good play and I think he's played really well in recent weeks.

"I took over from Sir Alex a great team who were champions. But we need to add to it. All the players I seem to talk to are really keen to join Manchester United let's hope it comes to fruition in the summer time."

Mata's Delight at Maiden Strike

Manchester United's record signing Juan Mata capped a fine personal display with a well-taken goal against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Saturday.

With the Reds already 2-1 up, United's playmaker-in-chief struck to secure a two-goal cushion just before the hour mark. It was his first for the club and afterwards he spoke to MUTV, expressing his glee after scoring for his new club in the 4-1 triumph.


“It feels very good, it's taken a few games but today was the day," the Spaniard commented. "I felt that it was coming and, thankfully, it was today. I feel very happy and very grateful to the fans who were supporting me in the game today.

"I will try to score as many as I can between now and the end of the season and hopefully it is the first of many in my Manchester United career."

Mata also moved to praise fellow goalscorer Wayne Rooney, not just for his contribution in front of goal, but also his all-round importance to this United side.

"He's doing very well for us, scores almost every game and is so passionate about playing for this club," Mata added. "I'm very happy for him and hopefully he can keep scoring until the end of the season."

"I really enjoyed linking up with him as we had spaces to play between their lines. I really like to play with him because he is top striker - he does everything up front."

United vs Villa - Match Review

On a day of planes and protests, United and David Moyes enjoy a comfortable afternoon at Old Trafford.

It wasn't quite all 'plane' sailing for United but the aerial anti-David Moyes protest was shot down in flames by a welcome Reds victory.

Bayern Munich won't exactly be quaking in their boots when they make their own flight into Manchester on Tuesday but after the misery of the derby against City and the subsequent in-house squabbling between fans over the merits of the 'Wrong One – Moyes Out' banner flown behind a plane paid for by a disgruntled bunch of followers at least there was something to cheer about.

When the first drone of the engines could be heard coming in from the direction of its base in Blackpool, Old Trafford looked to the skies and some booing broke out against the stunt.

Moyes, himself, took the unusual step of making his way to his seat in the dug out before the teams and it was a courageous decision that would show clearly if the home support was as strongly behind him as he believes is the case.

The Reds boss was vindicated as the stadium rose to applaud his walk down the pitchside and chanted his name.



Manchester United's Juan Mata frustrated by European ineligibility as he thanks fans

Juan Mata has admitted it will be difficult to watch Manchester United's UEFA Champions League quarter-final from the sidelines but believes the pressure will be on favourites Bayern Munich, while he has thanked the club's fans for their 'amazing' support and vowed to try and improve.

United's disappointing season continued with a 3-0 loss at home to local rivals Manchester City in midweek, but they have made it through to the last eight of European football's premier tournament and will face Bayern Munich in the first leg of their tie on Tuesday.



Moyes: I have support of fans

Manchester United manager David Moyes remains convinced he is the best man to lead the club forward, insisting he retained the support of the majority of club's fans ahead of the visit of Aston Villa.

A group of disgruntled United fans have clubbed together £840 to pay for a banner reading 'Wrong One - Moyes Out' to be flown above Old Trafford in the build-up to United's lunch-time kick-off against Aston Villa. 

The message mocks a banner in the Stretford End which proclaims Moyes as 'The Chosen One' - a reference to the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson hand-picked Moyes to be his successor last summer. 

The saga took another twist on Friday after it emerged that another banner, trailed from a different plane, will be flown over the stadium at the same time. 

It is understood that a high-street bookmaker is behind the second banner. The bookmaker is refusing to reveal the message their plane will drag across the skies, but it is understood to not be favourable towards Moyes. 

If those fans who paid for the fly-by thought their stunt would push Moyes towards resignation, they were wrong. 
"All it has done is strengthened my resolve to get the job done right," a defiant United manager said. "I'm more driven to succeed than ever. "I want to change the position we're in just now. I really do believe we can do that." 

Jokes on City - Chant Backfires