Moyes confident he can deliver glory at United
DEFIANT Manchester United boss David Moyes does not fear for his future and believes the board back him to return the club to the all-conquering force they were under predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson.
Moyes has endured a testing first year in charge of the Premier League champions, who are seventh in the table and on the brink of a last-16 Champions League exit unless they overturn a 2-0 first-leg deficit at home to Olympiacos tonight.
United have won two of their last seven matches and lost 3-0 to rivals Liverpool on Sunday, yet Moyes is adamant he will get things right.
“My future has not changed one bit,” he said. “I have got a great job and know the direction I want to go in. The biggest assurance is the club will let me get on with the job. The club does not work on a short-term vision, it works on a long-term vision.
“Manchester United is the biggest club in the world. It might not feel like that now, but it will rise again.”
United will be without defenders Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans who have hamstring and calf problems respectively, while Juan Mata is cup-tied.
Olympiacos were crowned Greek Super League champions at the weekend and are set to welcome back Argentina striker Javier Saviola after a calf injury, but Nigerian Michael Olaitan is ruled out with an inflammation of the heart muscle.
BURDEN OF HISTORY
■ United have lost an away first-leg in Europe 16 times and progressed on six occasions
■ Only twice have they overturned a 2-0 first-leg deficit (against Spurs in 1963 and Barcelona in 1984)
■ Olympiacos have lost all 11 previous matches on English soil and conceded 34 goals