Coaches Settle In At United

There have been big changes at Manchester United this summer; not only has David Moyes stepped in as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor, he also brought with him a trusted backroom team to add to Old Trafford’s already successful set-up.

During the first full week back at the Aon Training Complex, the coaches have been getting used to their new surroundings while the players are adapting to a new era, and so too the fans are finding out about the new recruits.

MUTV spoke exclusively to Steve Round (assistant manager), Jimmy Lumsden (First-team coach), Phil Neville (coach) and Chris Woods (goalkeeper coach) and the overriding sentiment is that the new men are settling in well and looking forward to the challenge of maintaining United’s success over the past two decades.

Assistant manager Steve Round said of his first few days in the role: “[It’s been] fantastic, absolutely brilliant. I’ve been made to feel very welcome by everybody, all the players and the staff. It’s such a magnificent football club that it’s very easy to settle in here.

“As a coach you always have the ambition to work at the most elite level you can work at – a top Champions League and championship-winning team. You want to work with the best players and have the chance to win trophies.”

Ex-Red Phil Neville has also been drafted in after working under Moyes at Everton, and he added: “I’ve got to say it’s been five of the most amazing days I’ve had. I said to my wife and mum and dad, who asked what kind of first day I’d had. I said, ‘It’s probably the best day I’ve had in my professional career.’ This is where I want to be and I’m going to embrace it, every minute detail. I’m going to enjoy it.”

On the subject of what Moyes is like to work for, his backroom team described, in unison, his work ethic. First-team coach Jimmy Lumsden said: “He has great work ethic, and he expects the same from everyone else”. While Round added: “He’s fantastic to work alongside. He has great attention to detail. He has a lot of honesty and integrity and I think that fits well with the club he has just joined.”