David Moyes accuses United of ditching special tradition in honest assessment of his ill-fated spell

Everton manager David Moyes has insisted that he needed time to make things work at Manchester United ahead of his return to Old Trafford on Monday evening. Moyes’ doomed United tenure When Sir Alex Ferguson retired, Moyes was handed the unenviable responsibility of replacing the legendary Scot. Sir Alex hand-picked Moyes as his successor. He started work at the club in July 2013 but only lasted just under 10 months, as he was sacked in April 2024. Moyes took charge of 51 games, winning 27, losing 15 and drawing 19. Some notable low points of his time at United include the first home league defeats to Everton and West Brom, a first home league loss to Newcastle since 1972, 3-0 defeats to bitter rivals Manchester City and Liverpool within the same week in March 2014. Now back at Everton, Moyes is steering the club through something of a revival. With the Toffees heading to the Theatre of Dreams on Monday, the 62-year-old has reflected openly on his difficult spell in charge of United. Moyes looks back He said [as quoted by Yahoo Sport], “I always thought when I took the job that it wouldn’t be able to be fixed quickly.” “I saw not long after I went in that it was going to take a bit of time. I think also you have to remember that it was not just to do with the strength of United. It was to do with the strength of other teams; Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal were all incredibly strong.” “They were all rebuilding and bringing in more all the time. So I think those clubs played as big a part in it as anyone else, that their quality had risen or was rising all the time.” On United’s frequent changes in the dugout, he remarked, “The history of Manchester United was not that [one of change]. Manchester United had a great culture.” “They stuck with their managers, they brought through their own academy boys. They actually had some of the best characteristics of what you would want your club to have; good values.” Moyes continued, “Sir Alex had great values at Manchester United and, over the years, those values he established needed some time to come through as well. It was always a club with brilliant values with an understanding about bringing their young players through and developing them in the right way.” United vs. Everton kicks off at 8pm. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!