Moyes Hails Win

David Moyes was pleased by Manchester United's positive start in the UEFA Champions League, having watched his side record a 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.

Under the glow of the Old Trafford floodlights, the Reds were convincing victors thanks to goals from Wayne Rooney (2), Robin van Persie and Antonio Valencia. Those strikes outweighed a couple of spirited second half ripostes from Simon Rolfes and Omer Toprak.

As a result, United are now top of Group A ahead of Shakhtar Donetsk, who secured a fine 2-0 away win at Real Sociedad. And while that is obviously a bonus, Moyes isn’t getting carried away.

“We were really pleased with the goals we scored,” the boss told MUTV. “I was delighted to get the first one and get it started and I thought we had good control of the game from there on in. Leverkusen were a threat at set-pieces all night really, they’re a very big team. But overall we had control and we scored some really good goals tonight.

“It was important that we won tonight so that we weren’t chasing things. Things will get more difficult as we go along, but I thought Leverkusen were a decent side. We played well enough to limit their opportunities. However I wouldn’t underestimate them by any means and we won’t be underestimating Shakhtar who, by all accounts, had a good result too.”

Tuesday’s match also saw new-signing Marouane Fellaini make his Champions League debut for the club, producing a solid performance for 81 minutes before departing for Tom Cleverley. Afterwards, Moyes praised the Belgian and explained why he was substituted.

“I thought he (Fellaini) played well tonight, I thought he settled in well,” he told reporters. “He started to get a bit of cramp midway through the second half so I just thought I wouldn’t take any chances with him. But I thought he did a good job and played well tonight.”

The manager also had positive words for Antonio Valencia, who looked full of confidence on the right wing and capped an encouraging display with an excellent goal on 79 minutes, a finish that capped a superb team move for the Reds.

“We knew that if we could get Antonio Valencia plenty of the ball then he’d be able to deliver the crosses. He did do and ran the full-back a couple of times in the first half.

“It was his goal I was pleased with, he’s got a great strike on him with that right-foot and it was great to show that. I’ve said to him that he should score more goals.”