Moyes: We will rise again

Man Utd v Olympiakos

Manchester United boss David Moyes insists the club will ‘rise again’ as he brushed off speculation about his future.

United were dismantled by bitter rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday, going down 3-0, prompting many fans and pundits to question his ability to take the Premier League champions forward.

Tonight, Moyes is faced with a 2-0 deficit to overturn at home to Greek side Olympiakos in order to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

“When you lose in the fashion we did, and to one of our biggest rivals, it’s obviously a big disappointment,” Moyes said at the pre-match press-conference. “As soon as it was over, we’ve concentrated on this game. We told the players the only thing that matters is this game.”

He added: “My future has not changed one bit. I have a great job, I know the direction I want to go in. We know we have put ourselves in a poor position but we have belief.

“The biggest assurance is they will let me get on with the job. We never discuss it [his future]. I have a six-year contract. This club does not work on short-term vision, it works on a long-term vision.

“The support inside Old Trafford has been phenomenal. The first thing I mentioned to the players is we need to start giving something back. We need to work together to make it a night to be remembered. We will leave nothing behind.”

Moyes did admit tonight will require a special performance.

“I was looking back, it’s only twice Manchester United have done it [come back from two goals down], I think 1984 is the most recent one. It’s not something that happens a lot but it’s something we believe we have to make happen.

“I see the players every day, the qualities they show me. I think they know they can play better, I don’t think any of them are questioning that.”

Defeat ‘a nightmare’

One man is in particular need of a pick-me-up against Olympiakos.

Wayne Rooney described the defeat at home to Liverpool as one of his lowest moments in football.

After the 3-0 home loss to their bitter rivals, he said: “It is like a nightmare. It is one of the worst days I have ever had in football.

“It is hard to take. You have to give Liverpool credit, they played well but it is difficult for us to take.

“Nobody wants to lose, especially in this way, in your own stadium.

“To go behind by one penalty was hard to take.

“We had a game plan for the second half, which went out the window when they got the second penalty so early on.

“It made it an uphill battle to come back. I thought after that we had a couple of chances where I thought if we got one we could have gone for a second and maybe we could have done it.

“Obviously it didn’t happen, though. 

“Then, to concede a third penalty, even though they missed, was a big blow to us.”