Boss Excited By Europe

Having discovered which teams his Manchester United side will face, David Moyes admits he can’t wait to get started in this season’s UEFA Champions League.

The Reds have been drawn in Group A of the competition alongside FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Real Sociedad, a selection of teams the boss is reasonably happy with – though he is wary of the threat posed by the Spaniards, who upset the odds to finish fourth in La Liga last term.

Moyes was also relieved to avoid the ‘group of death’ scenario that has seen his former playing club Celtic pitted against European giants Barcelona, AC Milan and Ajax.

“It was okay,” the manager explained during his weekly press conference at the Aon Training Complex, when asked about the draw. “I think the last one coming out was difficult, Sociedad from Spain. Generally, we could have got a tougher job like Celtic - they have got a really difficult one.

“I enjoyed watching the draw, being part of that Champions League and I look forward to the games when they come about. The travelling to Donetsk is obviously a long one and it's a difficult game but I think the travel is not bad in comparison and hopefully that will help us in that regard.”

Speaking to MUTV following Friday’s press conference, the manager relished the group stages following his previous exploits in the competition’s play-offs with former club Everton, whilst revealing the work ethic that will help United prepare for each and every match.

“Folks sometimes say I have not, but I have been in the Champions League before but I have not made the group stage. So I am really looking forward to it. I had quite a few episodes in the European League, which were obviously good but nothing at the level of the Champions League.

“I will do everything I can between now and then to get to know the teams we are playing, get to see them as often as I can and do our homework so that when we do get to the games, we are as prepared as we can be.”