Alex Ferguson insists under-fire Manchester United manager David Moyes can still salvage his side`s season with a strong run in the second half of the campaign.
|Last Updated: Jan 25, 2014, 12:07 PM IST|Source: AFP
London: Alex Ferguson insists under-fire Manchester United manager David Moyes can still salvage his side`s season with a strong run in the second half of the campaign.
United have struggled badly since Ferguson retired at the end of last season after almost 27 years in charge at Old Trafford.
Ferguson hand-picked Moyes as his successor but the former Everton boss has so far failed to emulate his fellow Scot`s triumphant reign.
United are languishing 14 points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal and face a battle just to finish in the top four.
To make matters worse they have also crashed out of both the FA and League Cups.
Yet Ferguson says there is no limit to what United can achieve if they can turn on the style in the manner his teams so often did in the decisive final months of the season.
"United can do anything. They have got that great philosophy and history, they will always do well," Ferguson said.
"I can watch the team whenever I want and I`ve really enjoyed it. I`m going as a supporter now and instead of suffering with the team, I`m suffering or enjoying it with the fans. I`m really enjoying watching the team play."
Ferguson was given strong support by United`s board of directors when he struggled during the first few years of his reign.
And he is confident United`s current owners the Glazer family will show the same kind of backing for Moyes.
They have already given the green light for Moyes to spend a club record £37 million to sign Spain playmaker Juan Mata from Chelsea.
And Ferguson told BBC Sport: "Of course they will (stick to their philosophy), they`ve always been that way.
"There`s no need to go down that road (discussing Moyes` future). Everybody knows what Manchester United is, absolutely 100 per cent."
Ferguson cannot understand clubs who constantly chop and change managers without giving them time to succeed and he doesn`t expect Moyes to suffer the same fate.
"I can never understand that. They (the club`s board) must discuss the qualities of the manager they are going to offer the job to, you must look at his CV, his character, the philosophy he has," Ferguson added.
"Now if that is the way they have gone about giving the man the job, why don`t they persevere with it?
"So then maybe it goes for a year, then they change, and then they go through the same procedure again. It seems to me so stupid."
There have been suggestions that Ferguson`s regular presence in directors` boxes at United matches since his retirement may not be helping Moyes to settle in, given plenty of focus continues to be afforded to the 72-year-old Scot.
But Ferguson is holding out hope for a late United surge in one of the most wide-open Premier League title races in recent years.
"This year for the first time it really looks as if five or six could be involved (in the title race), so it`s a great Premier League," Ferguson told Sky Sports News.
"You have to say Manchester City are playing so well, there is no dispute about that, but the teams at the top at the minute must have a big chance.
"Arsenal must have a big chance. Everyone keeps writing them off, saying they won`t last, but we`re into the second half of the season and they are still there. Then you`ve got Chelsea, Everton, Tottenham, who are starting to do well.
"United always do well in the second half of the season, so we`ve got a fantastic league and we should be proud of that."
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.