Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claims that David Moyes never really saw the true gravity of what it meant to be at Manchester United.
Moyes replaced Fergie in July 2013, but struggled to make an impact on the team, while also consistently losing support from within the dressing room in itself. He was eventually sacked in April this year, with van Gaal being drafted in as his replacement.
“He hadn’t realised just how big United is as a club,” Ferguson wrote in excerpts of his updated autobiography. “It was a massive jump.”
“As the results deteriorated, each defeat was a hammer blow to him. I could see that in his demeanour. In January we bought Juan Mata and that gave everyone a lift but I could see the walls squeezing in, leaving David with less and less room to breathe.
“I know that feeling from 1989, when we went through a terrible spell. You feel you are being crushed. The results gnawed away at David. Nobody could dispute how disappointing the season was. And it cost a man his job.”
Ferguson famously requested for the United fans to have faith in Moyes, while presenting his farewell speech in Old Trafford. There was a general understanding that Fergie was also instrumental in bringing the ex-Everton man to replace him, and was even the individual who broke to news to Moyes himself.
However, Fergie disagreed with claims of him playing an over-arching role in the appointment, instead reiterating all proper procedures and guidelines were followed before they finalized the candidate.
“There appears to be an accepted view out there that there was no process,” he continued. “Nonsense. We feel we did everything the right way: quietly, thoroughly, professionally.”
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