David Moyes has confessed a lack of experience in Europe and believes he has a ‘learn a lot quickly’ if he is going to lead Manchester United to European glory.
The 50-year-old Scot has only competed in the Champions League once before when his Everton side were beaten in the qualifying stage by Spanish side Villarreal.
Moyes has conceded that his lack of experience will prove challenging but he is excited to learn in the hope of leading the Reds to European silverware.
“For me it will be a thrill and I’m going to have to learn a lot quickly and that’s where I’m looking to the likes of Ryan Giggs and a few players around me for the things which I need to be told about,” Moyes told reporters.
“It’s not all about the playing side of it – I’ve been in the Champions League, watched loads of games, managed in the Europa League – everybody has to start somewhere.”
Moyes believes that the Champions League has become much tougher in recent years and is conscious of the fact that there will be no easy matches.
“I think it’s a competition where at the start you think: ‘oh, they’re automatic winners’,” he said.
“There are a few teams who people didn’t expect to do well, Galatasaray, Basel. The likes of Juventus were back again.
“It seemed to take the challenge a little bit from Barcelona and Real Madrid.
“So I do think it’s a much more open competition than what it has been in the past.
“Even from the draw – if you don’t get a particularly good draw it can become a struggle whichever part of the world you’re playing in now.”
The new boss at Old Trafford is keen to ensure that his team perform well in the Champions League and believes that national pride is at stake when teams go head-to-head in Europe.
“I think the year when Manchester United and Chelsea played in the final everyone connected to football in this country sort of stuck their chest out,” said Moyes.
“It was the German teams this year. In the past it’s been the Spanish teams.
“I genuinely think there’s a swell [of pride] from our country that we want the British teams to do really well.
“I’ve got to say I’m really looking forward to it.”
Image courtesy of MUTV via YouTube, with thanks.
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