Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has opened up on his 10-month spell in charge at Old Trafford, insisting he believes he could have done better if granted more time to familiarise himself with the job.
Moyes was appointed as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor in May 2013, with it confirmed that he would replace the legendary Scot ahead of the start of the 2013/14 season, following the latter's retirement. Moyes was identified as the ideal candidate to pick up the baton from Ferguson following a successful 11-year spell in charge of Everton.
However, despite winning his first game in charge, beating Swansea City 4-1 on the opening day of the Premier League season, Moyes' tenure at Old Trafford soon went downhill. United failed to sit in the top four at any point in the season past their second game of the campaign and Moyes was sacked in April 2014.
READ MORE: Dean Henderson has been given another reason to seal Manchester United exit
After over 26 years under Ferguson, it was always going to be difficult for anyone who took over. But whilst Moyes has admitted that he could not replicate Ferguson, he wanted to try and pick up where his fellow countryman had left off.
"I was experienced at the time; I'd spent 11 years in the Premier League at a good level and built the club (Everton) up," Moyes told The Athletic. "But at Manchester United, I think maybe I needed a chance to grow into it.
"You talk about players coming into the Premier League and needing a bit of time. It wasn't that I needed time in the Premier League, but I needed time at the club to find myself and to find how I was going.
"And the truth is, I wanted just to carry on what Sir Alex had done. I couldn't be Sir Alex, but I wanted to continue the model they had, developing young players, putting young players in the team, trying to play in a fashion that suited them. That was the idea.
"I only look back at it with great fondness, honoured that I was offered a job of that magnitude. Unfortunately, I only got 10 months. I think if I'd been given a bit longer, I could have done better, but ultimately I can only blame myself because I needed to win more games."
Sign up to our United newsletter so you never miss an update from Old Trafford this season.
