Five Factors That Could Cost David Moyes His Job

David Moyes will remain as Manchester United manager despite the 2-0 Champions League defeat by Olympiakos.

The Premier League champions remain committed to the man they handed a six-year contract to in the summer, maintaining their mantra he will be given the time and finance he needs to make a success of the job.

Could that situation change, though?

And what factors might count against the 50-year-old Scot, lauded as "The Chosen One" in a banner hung from the Stretford End in August, when he began the task of replacing Britain's most successful club manager, Sir Alex Ferguson?

The players lose faith

When he arrived at Fiorentina for the start of his loan spell in January, Anderson was quoted as saying other United players "wanted out" in the summer, though he later denied making the comments.
Javier Hernandez and Wilfried Zaha have posted cryptic quotes on Twitter that did not meet with the approval of senior figures within the squad.

But Rio Ferdinand's pre-Christmas observation about the amount of notice Moyes gives about team selections has been the only real public questioning of the manager by a player currently at Old Trafford.

Robin van Persie's remarks about United's tactics against Olympiakos - and how they affected his role - were not exactly critical of Moyes. That said, would the Dutchman have made such pointed remarks under Ferguson, a man who stamped on any threat to his authority?

There has been some good news for Moyes, with Wayne Rooney's decision to sign a new contract a clear sign he thinks United are a club worth sticking with, but the announcement Nemanja Vidic would be leaving at the end of the season was ill-timed and placed a question mark against his commitment for the rest of the campaign.

Could player power ultimately undermine Moyes, just as it did at Chelsea and Sunderland, when Andre Villas-Boas and Paolo Di Canio were forced out after losing the backing of the dressing room?

Arthur Albiston, who made 485 appearances for United, described the performance in Greece as "awful" but says the players will be more focused on themselves than their manager's predicament.

"The players, the younger ones in particular, need to get their heads around the fact they are playing for Manchester United and half the country are smirking at their downfall," said the former Scotland defender. "Dealing with that pressure is part and parcel of being at the club. It is just the way it is."

The fans turn against him

"Your job now is to stand by our new manager," ordered Ferguson as he addressed the United supporters following his final home game in May.

Those words were greeted by roars of approval from a capacity crowd and, by and large, the fans have backed Moyes.

There are signs, though, that support is wavering.

The Manchester Evening News has led the criticism of Moyes, while Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of the Manchester United Supporters' Trust, said defeat in Greece had gone down badly with those who had made the trip.

"You can feel people are swaying," he said. "There is a division between those who think Moyes is the right man and others who do not."

Drasdo believes the entire debate avoids the main issue.

"Everybody recognised how hard succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson was going to be," said Drasdo.

"To stand any chance, the club needed to spend big in the summer transfer window. They did not and, whilst the depth of what has happened could not be predicted, the downturn was obvious."

The owners panic

The speed at which a rumour that Moyes had been sacked flew round the New York Stock Exchange the morning after the Olympiakos defeat showed how much damage can be wreaked.

It turned out to be a hoax but United's present status means such mischief-making can take hold.

The Glazer family have slashed the debt loaded onto the club following their takeover and are reaping the benefits of massive increases in commercial revenue.

They still have shareholders to serve, though.

It has been consistently claimed the club could ride over a season without the £30m generated from a good Champions League run.

However, the club's financial structure is built around being in Uefa's elite club competition, which is only going to increase in value.

BT Sport paid £897m for the rights to broadcast the tournament from 2015, more than double the current deal, underlining the financial incentive for qualification.

And it is unlikely Chevrolet, who will start paying United £53m a year this summer to have their name on their shirts for the next seven years, struck that record-breaking agreement in the belief the club were set for a spell in the wilderness.

The Glazers also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL franchise and have shown they are not afraid to act fast if things are not going well.

They dumped head coach Greg Schiano in December, just two years into a contract not due to expire until 2016, triggering their third coaching change in the past five years.

United suffer more bloody noses

If 2014 has been bad so far, the visits of Liverpool and Manchester City to Old Trafford in March, plus that crucial Champions League return with Olympiakos, present the potential for total humiliation.

It is hard to see the rank-and-file in the stands remaining patient if the recent negative trend continues.

There is a note of caution, though, albeit not one Moyes can take much comfort from.

"It feels like we hit rock bottom on Tuesday night," said Drasdo. "The general consensus leaving the stadium was we can't go any lower. I don't see another one or two results are going to change that."

The task becomes too much for Moyes

When Moyes addressed the media for the first time at the beginning of July, his delight at being asked to replace the man who won an incredible 49 trophies for United was obvious.

The slow realisation of the sheer scale of the task he faces has been fascinating to watch as surprise defeat has followed surprise defeat.

West Brom won at Old Trafford for the first time in 35 years. Everton broke a 21-year hoodoo. For Newcastle, it was 41. As for Swansea, they had never left victorious.

Now United's unbeaten record against Greek opposition has gone, too.

In the middle of all this came a win over Arsenal, when Moyes publicly acknowledged it would not be plain sailing.

"We have got a lot of big steps to take here and it is going to take me a while to get it all the way I want it to be," he said. "We are going to get a few bloody noses along the way."

Shortly afterwards, as the January transfer window loomed large, the Scot outlined the sheer scale of his task.

"To talk about January as if that would be the place where everything would be cured and any problems would be resolved would be wrong," he said. "It takes maybe two, three or four windows to do that."

Confidence in his transfer dealings is not high anyway.

He spent £27.5m on Marouane Fellaini, who spent Tuesday on the bench, and a club-record £37.1m on Juan Mata, whose best position is the same as Rooney's.

Yet this is a squad that won the title by 11 points last season and finished each of the past two seasons with 89 points.

When David De Gea made a rare and inexplicable mistake to cost his team a place in the Capital One Cup final and Stoke broke their 30-year wait for a win over United, Moyes bemoaned ill fortune.

"I don't know what we have to do to win," he said.

Then came Athens.

"I didn't see that level of performance coming," bemoaned Moyes after his side managed just one shot on target all night. "I just didn't see it."

United insist his job is not under threat, but will he see the end coming soon?

Evra Remains Coy On Manchester United Future

Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra is giving little away when it comes to his future, claiming to be fully focused on the present.

The France international is believed to be among a group of experienced heads United are prepared to part with this summer.

Nemanja Vidic has already confirmed that he will be leaving Old Trafford at the end of his current contract, and fellow centre-half Rio Ferdinand could be joining him.

Evra finds himself in a similar situation after seven years with the Red Devils.

Inter Milan, who are reported to have agreed a deal with Vidic, are among those closely monitoring his situation, along with wealthy Ligue 1 outfits Paris St Germain and Monaco.

Evra is, however, remaining coy when it comes to his next move, insisting that he will only explore his options when a love affair with United is 'broken'.

He told RMC Sport: "My love will not change for the club.

"I love Manchester. When my love will be broken with Manchester, I will study the possibilities.

"I am only thinking about the present. In May I will be 33 years old. I really want to have fun at the next World Cup, enjoy every moment and give my all."

Evra has also been discussing the changes at United which have led to them struggling for form in 2013/14, with David Moyes yet to convince as successor to the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.

"There was a big change, it must be digested - nobody likes change," added Evra, who was snapped up from Monaco by Ferguson in January 2006.

"The team played for over 28 years with Alex Ferguson.

"It is behind the new manager, we will do everything to qualify for the next Champions League."

United currently sit 11 points adrift of the top four in the Premier League table and suffered a 2-0 reversal in the first leg of their last-16 showdown with Olympiakos in this season's Champions League.

Crerand: Reds Can Still Progress

Manchester United legend Paddy Crerand was understandably upset by his former team’s display in Greece – but he’s still backing the Reds to recover and overcome Olympiacos to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.


Speaking on his weekly phone-in programme on MUTV, the former midfielder agreed with manager David Moyes’ assessment that it was a “really poor” performance during the 2-0 defeat.

"The players would be the first to admit it. They just didn’t perform on the night,” assessed Crerand.

“We’re all a bit dumbfounded – after the win at Crystal Palace, we thought it would lift the players’ confidence for the next game but then all of a sudden, bang, it just didn’t happen for us.

“Playing away from home in Europe is very, very difficult, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing, and I’ve got to say Olympiakos played extremely well. I thought their crowd were fantastic and the whole situation was made for them. They lived up to it and we didn’t. There are no excuses really. We just didn’t play well on the night, that was it, and we got what we deserved.”

Crerand felt the performance in Athens was all the more surprising given the Reds had previously played so well on the road in Europe, peaking with the previous trip when Bayer Leverkusen were beaten 5-0 in their own backyard in late November.

“We’ve been fantastic in Europe and our better football has been played away, while we’ve struggled at home,” said the Scot.

“Now we’ve got a big, big match coming up at Old Trafford. It’s the big one because we’re in a situation where qualifying for Europe through the league is looking distant, so it’s important that United do something at home against Olympiacos.”

The Reds legend admitted that the second-leg mission for David Moyes’ men would have been made easier had Robin van Persie converted “that great chance” into a valuable away goal late in the game.

“I don’t think anybody will be more disappointed than Robin,” reflected Crerand. “That could have made all the difference if we’d only lost 2-1 rather than 2-0.

“But even though three goals is a big ask, I still fancy United to get through, particularly if the crowd get behind the team on the night, which they will do.”

RVP: Give Moyes Time

Robin van Persie insists Manchester United manager David Moyes needs time, but also admits they are 'lousy'.

United's season went from bad to worse on Tuesday when they went down 2-0 to Greek champions Olympiakos in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Moyes shouldered the blame afterwards for their reversal in Athens, but with this being United's last chance of silverware this term - the loss still came as a major blow to the club.

Given United are currently 11 points off a top-four finish, it has been suggested Moyes is under pressure at Old Trafford - but the Dutchman backed his boss.

"He is new and needs time. He's working hard and so are we," van Persie is quoted by The Sun.

"It's easy to point at the manager but that's not who I am. We need to do it on the pitch."

But the former Arsenal man refused to pull any punches on their current plight.

"We are lousy - in a lousy position in the league, out of the cups and this looks a difficult one also," he said.

"We are very disappointed. It's a tough season.

"Sometimes we play good but not always. And we are not lucky. That's no excuse, though. We need to turn it around.

"We are able to play in a high tempo with massive power but in Greece it was all too slow.

"Olympiakos didn't create a lot either. The first goal was lucky, the second goal was a great one and for the rest of the game they didn't have any good chances."

Van Persie insists that United can still go through against Olympiakos, but concedes things won't be easy.

"It is possible to beat them at home with 2-0 or 3-0, but it won't be easy," he concluded.

United Shares Rally From Loss

Manchester United's share price remained steady on Wednesday after a day of rumours concerning manager David Moyes.

United's 2-0 defeat by Olympiakos in the Champions League on Tuesday led to plenty of conjecture about Moyes' future, with one rumour suggesting he had already left Old Trafford after less than one season.

There was an initial drop in their share price on the New York Stock Exchange when the market opened but it soon rallied and ended the day 33 cents up at $14.98.

The rumours about Moyes seemed to emanate from the financial world with widespread talk an announcement would be made to the NYSE when trading opened.

But United were reported to be 'baffled' by the comments and have always made it clear Moyes will be given time to prove he is the right man to replace the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.

A plunge on Moyes becoming the next Premier League manager to leave his post also occurred on Wednesday, the second Wednesday shake-up in that market after earlier rumours that Pepe Mel was about to leave his post at West Brom after only a couple of months.

Davies: Rvp Should Speak To Team

Van Persie has hit the headlines since United's latest setback on Tuesday night after he appeared to question the positioning of some of his team-mates.

"It was quite difficult because my team-mates are often in the area where I want to play," the Dutchman said. "That's why I have to change my tactics. Unfortunately, they are often in my area."

As a striker himself, Davies found the comments strange from a player he regards as one of the best in the business.

He told TEAMtalk: "I could understand that comment coming from someone else but from him, who I regard as one of the most intelligent football players around - he's got a very quick brain, he's got fantastic technique, he's world class - it seems a bit like sour grapes.

"If he's got an issue then for the benefit of the team he should discuss that with the players and coaching staff. The video analysis team can clip up whatever he needs. If it's the forward unit or the midfield unit (causing the issue), get them in the meeting and discuss it with the manager. He is mature enough and experienced enough to do that.

"I've certainly had issues over the years where I've felt there's something not right or players that have come in haven't settled so I've called a meeting with the whole squad and asked if everyone knows where they're supposed to be playing. They've said 'no' so I've told the manager we need to work on it more.

"Having won the league last season obviously the players are all frustrated but Van Persie is one with all that experience that should be giving input back to the team and back to the manager.

"I'm sure David Moyes and all of his staff would be wanting to use all of his advice.

"It's not all about you, it's about the team, and that's the only disappointing thing about Van Persie's comment."

Moyes has come in for plenty of criticism throughout the season for the tactics he has used but Davies insists the onus is ultimately on the players to produce - regardless of the system they are playing in.

He added: "I don't worry too much about formations, football is about everyone being on the same wavelength and everyone knowing what they're doing.

"Of course formations count but it's all about the players at the end of the day going out there and putting everything into practice. Formations are just too easy to hide behind."

Tony Cottee: Manchester United Failed To Create Against Impressive Olympiakos

Manchester United looked like a non-league team in their 2-0 defeat at Olympiakos, according to Tony Cottee.

David Moyes has endured a frustrating first season in charge of the Old Trafford outfit and the under-performing Premier League title holders once again produced a below-par display on Tuesday night to leave themselves with an uphill battle to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

Goals from Alejandro Dominguez and on loan Arsenal youngster Joel Campbell did the damage for the impressive hosts, but Cottee told Soccer Special the visiting team were a long way off the required standard.

"First of all, I have to say Olympiakos were fantastic," said Cottee. "They did to Manchester United what Manchester United should have done to them.

"From the first moment they got amongst them, put them under pressure, looked like they were going to score, won the midfield battle and defended for their lives - exactly what Manchester United didn't do.

"United were off the pace from the start, couldn't get hold of the ball and gave it away all the time.

"Quite rightly David Moyes will get it in the neck because he's the manager and you take responsibility for the team, that's how it works. But the players have to take responsibility as well.

"If you were a neutral, didn't know anything about football and turned up to watch that game you'd have said it was like an English Premier League team playing an English non-league team, that was the difference in class. It was incredible."

Cottee poured particular scorn on United's defence but also had strong words about their midfield and forwards, who only managed one shot on target all night.

Aside from finally warming the hands of Olympiakos keeper Roberto in the final minute, Robin van Persie also blazed an opening over the bar late on - but former West Ham and Everton striker Cottee says United must find a way to be more creative in front of goal.

"Defensively United were all over the place," he said.

"It's the worst I've seen Chris Smalling play, Rio Ferdinand had a poor game, Nemanja Vidic made last-ditch tackles all the time and Patrice Evra was poor. As a unit they were all over the place.

"Wayne Rooney was coming deeper and deeper trying to look for the ball while Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley were totally outnumbered, even though the two teams were playing the same formation.

"Their best chance was a Van Persie effort. It was crossed into him, he had a couple of good chances, leaned back and with his right foot put it over the bar. On another day it goes in, they lose 2-1 and they say 'we didn't play well but we got an away goal'.

"But they just didn't create. The crossing was poor - I don't know what's happened to their crossing. It hits the first man or goes behind the goal. You can't blame the pitch, it was a fantastic pitch. There are no excuses it was just dreadful.

"There was also a lack of determination to win the ball back, they dropped off and let them turn and run at them. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong for them.

"I can't really see what David Moyes can take from it, other than the fact it's only 2-0. If they get the fans behind them at Old Trafford and do the opposite of what they did tonight they'll have a chance. But it was a dreadful performance and Moyes is going to get some stick, without a doubt."

Greek side Olympiakos have lost all 11 of their away games against English sides in this competition - however, even that statistic doesn't convince Cottee United will be able to overturn a 2-0 deficit in Europe for the first time since 1957 when the sides meet again in the second leg on March 19.

"United will have to get amongst them, right from the first minute," he said.

"They've got to put them under pressure and they've got to create some chances. But Olympiakos are a decent side and will be threatening on the counter-attack.

"The worrying thing for me is Manchester United's form this year at Old Trafford. They've lost miles too many games and there's going to be real pressure on the night.

"It's alright blaming David Moyes but those players have to stand up and be counted."

Moyes Sets The Tone

Manchester United have left themselves plenty to do after a miserable 2-0 defeat away to Olympiakos in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie. The result piles further pressure on David Moyes and Adam Bate feels the manager must take the blame for this latest failure.

After witnessing Manchester United's woeful display in Athens on Tuesday night, curiously, it was the recent comments of former player Tim Howard in praising Everton manager Roberto Martinez that sprang to mind. Evidently, the experienced goalkeeper has been inspired by the positive attitude of David Moyes' successor at Goodison Park.

"No matter what game we go into," said Howard, "the focus has not at any point this season been on the other team - it has always been about us. You have to do this 40 weeks of the year, it is nice not to come into work every day thinking 'Oh, that's looming ahead'. The manager keeps us bright and bubbly and focused on ourselves. Not always having to look over your shoulder at who is coming next is good. We work on ourselves and it's a difference."

It certainly seemed very different to the United team that walked out to face Olympiakos in the first leg of their last 16 clash in the Champions League. The game was Moyes' first in the knockout stages of the competition and there were clues to his outlook in the pre-match interview. Fans of Moyes bingo were in business. Tough place to come. Check. Be compact. Check. Be hard to play against. Check. There was even a warning to watch out for the Greek side's adventurous free-kicks.

Clearly the United boss had done his homework but the focus felt negative. The plan seemed to be to play with little tempo in the hope of keeping the vociferous home support quiet. This was about stopping Olympiakos and nicking the away goal. Get it right and it's called a professional European performance. Get it wrong and it can be interpreted as more of the same from a Moyes - an overly-cautious approach from an inexplicably cautious manager.

A little context: This is not a good Olympiakos team. It's 15 years since the club from the Piraeus reached the quarter finals of the Champions League and this vintage is far from their best. It's not even as good as last month's version with Kostas Mitroglou, the prize asset who was sold to Premier League bottom club Fulham. Even last week's incarnation with a fit Javier Saviola can be considered superior. Accepted wisdom was that they were the weakest side left in the draw.

Indeed, when Borussia Dortmund scored two early goals in St Petersburg earlier in the evening, the aggregate tally stood at 11-0 in favour of the seeded teams among the last 16 despite the underdogs enjoying home advantage each time. Trust United to bust the narrative. And against a side they'd beaten in their previous four encounters. Praise the Greeks, but do not doubt United were the architects of their own demise.

Their work was sterile and without purpose. With Juan Mata cup-tied and Adnan Januzaj omitted from the squad, it was left to Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young to provide their particular brand of one-dimensional invention from wide. In truth, conspicuously under instruction, they operated narrower than usual. But for the ploy to succeed in an attacking sense, it required nominal full-back Chris Smalling to get forward with gusto - a role in which he's seldom appeared comfortable.

As a result, with Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley sitting deep and offering neither protection nor penetration, getting star striker Robin van Persie into the game proved something of a chore. The Dutchman had just 12 touches in the first half - fewer than any player on the pitch - and if that seemed a problem worth solving, there was little evidence of any intent to do so after the break. He managed only 12 more touches, albeit spurning United's only chance of note in the process.

That skied effort offered some semblance of an excuse for Moyes and the apologists who cling desperately to the view that the prophecy of the Chosen One can still be fulfilled. Perhaps the opening goal could be dismissed as fortunate but that would be doing the excellent Alejandro Dominguez a disservice as his first-half effort was more deft flick than deflection and reflected the balance of play if not possession.

After all, while United had the ball - 60.6 per cent of it in the opening 45 minutes - it was the home side that fashioned the chances. Only a Nemanja Vidic block had prevented Dominguez scoring earlier. Carrick spoke afterwards of "controlling the game without penetrating through their lines and causing them any problems" and the assessment was rather more accurate than some of his side's passing. This was a group of players lacking any conviction in their work.

Anyone expecting a half-time rollocking in the dressing room to result in a positive response was to be disappointed. "We didn't start the second half well," added Carrick. "It was a bit sloppy really." Understatement. United retreated from kick-off and Cleverley's misplaced pass set the tone. A lazy foul by Van Persie followed and when a quick free-kick from Wayne Rooney put Cleverley in trouble shortly afterwards, it was Carrick who surrendered possession. It was a mess.

And so, it felt entirely appropriate that Joel Campbell should double the lead 10 minutes into the second half. The finish was impressive, bending the ball low into the far corner, but a weak challenge from Carrick preceded it and for all the quality of the strike it only served to hammer home the point that the visitors were there for the taking. The only factor preventing a more handsome win for Olympiakos was the paucity of their own ambition - shown by coach Michel's questionable decision to invite pressure by withdrawing both scorers late on. It stayed 2-0.

So where do United and Moyes go from here? Questions will continue to be asked of the players. Moyes himself spoke of the Champions League finalists among the group but that feels something of a misnomer. Rio Ferdinand continues to look desperately poor and in need of the sort of Hawthorns-epiphany that struck Gary Neville, while Vidic's farewell tour might not fare so well. In truth, it feels cruel to suggest Moyes has the same tools just because the names are the same.

And yet, there is no excuse for plumbing these depths. The much-maligned midfield four of Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Young won at both Chelsea and Manchester City just last season. Meanwhile, one can only imagine how Sir Alex Ferguson would have revelled in having Juan Mata and a maturing Adnan Januzaj at his disposal. No, this United regression is one of style as much as personnel - no fluidity or creativity to their play in spite of, rather than because of, the players.

This is a shell. A zombie Manchester United. As such, any optimistic talk regarding the second leg of the mystique surrounding this famous old club on magical nights seems similarly hollow. "We'll need the crowd," said Moyes. "We'll need everyone behind us at Old Trafford. It will be a big game for us. We've done it in the past and we'll try to do it again." We're reading from the Liverpool phrase book circa 1992 here.

Don't rule it out, of course. Olympiakos might not have the nous or quality to see this through. But it's hard to convince yourself that a dramatic turnaround would constitute 'typical United' anymore. Yes, we have seen those comebacks before. But like Tim Howard says, things were different then. And David Moyes wasn't the manager of Manchester United.

Credit: Skysports.com

Frustration For Van Persie

Manchester United striker Robin van Persie accused his team-mates of getting in his way following the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Olympiakos.

Goals from Alejandro Dominguez and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell put the Greek side in command after the first leg of the last-16 tie.

The latest setback in a miserable season has piled the pressure on David Moyes, with the Scot now the favourite with Sky Bet to become the next Premier League manager to lose his job.

Moyes was 25/1 to be the next managerial casualty before United's latest loss, but his odds were repeatedly slashed on Wednesday morning, going from 11/1 to 5/6 in just over an hour.

Van Persie wasted a good chance to score a vital away goal when he blazed a shot over the crossbar in the closing stages.

It was a frustrating night for the Dutchman as he struggled to make an impact, but he claimed after the match that his cause was not helped by the positioning of some of his team-mates.

"It was quite difficult because my team-mates are often in the area where I want to play," he said.

"That's why I have to change my tactics. Unfortunately, they are often in my area.

"It was much too slow and we only had one shot on target in the whole match against Olympiakos, which is far too little. Everyone is very disappointed."

United have to win by three clear goals in the second leg at Old Trafford to be sure of their passage to the quarter-finals, but Van Persie is refusing to throw in the towel just yet.

"It is still possible, because with all due respect to Olympiakos, we should be able to win 3-0 at home," he added.

"It is not that they were fantastic, we just mostly failed."

Moyes: We Will Put It Right

David Moyes admits Manchester United’s performance in Tuesday night’s shock first-leg defeat to Olympiacos was “really poor” – but is determined to make amends when the sides meet again at Old Trafford on 19 March.

The Reds were strongly fancied to claim a fifth win in five meetings with the Greek side but were instead turned over 2-0 by goals from Alejandro Dominguez and Joel Campbell in the 38th and 55th minutes. The United boss felt the deficit was greater than the difference between the sides, although he did accept his side didn’t “offer enough” at the other end of the pitch where, in the latter stages, Robin van Persie spurned the Reds’ only real chance.

“It's the worst we've played in Europe [this season], that's for sure,” said Moyes in his post-match press conference.

“It was a really poor performance. We didn't get going from the start. We didn't deserve anything from tonight.

"We just never got to grips with things. To a man, you could hardly pick anyone out [who played well]. We just didn't perform well.

“I'm surprised. I didn't see that level of performance coming. We came into the game in good form and a good mindset but it didn't show tonight.

“I have to say I don't think we were two goals worse off in the game. [For the first goal] they had a shot, which got deflected... but we didn't offer enough on the night to create a goal really.”

The only crumb of comfort for Moyes and his men is the time lapsed in the tie - only 90 minutes have passed with the same period to be played again on home soil in three weeks, at Old Trafford.

"We'll do everything we possibly can to reverse the 2-0 defeat tonight. We'll put it right, we're determined to put it right and we'll have opportunities to do that in the coming weeks.

"There's undoubtedly talent at Manchester United but tonight we didn't show it. Me and the team, we didn't show it together. I take responsibility. It's my team and I'll always front up. The players are hurting as well. They know how they performed. We're a team and we stick together.

"We didn't play well and we have to play better. We can do. The one good thing is there's still a second game to come. Old Trafford's seen some great nights in the past and I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing another one."

Carrick Rues Flat Display

Michael Carrick was downbeat after Manchester United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Olympiacos but insists the Reds can still turn it around in the second leg at Old Trafford.

The Reds produced a below-par display in Athens and face an uphill task to reach the last eight after goals by Alejandro Dominguez and Joel Campbell for the Greek champions.

Carrick admitted United weren’t good enough but believes David Moyes’ men can mount a fightback in the second leg in three weeks’ time.

"It's a disappointing night," Carrick said. "We came here hoping to win and we haven't done that. We didn't react in the second half until it was too late.

"We had good possession in the first half, controlling the game without really penetrating through their lines and causing them any problems. They didn't really cause us any problems and [Dominguez’s] goal came from nothing.

"We didn't start the second half very well: we were a bit sloppy really and they scored the second goal, which put us on the back foot.

"But we're not out of the tie. We are still in with a chance going back to Old Trafford and we'll look forward to the second leg. Don't get me wrong: to score three goals in this competition is tough, but we've done it before and we believe we can do it again."

Robin van Persie spurned a great chance to bag an important away goal in the final 10 minutes but Carrick refused to point the finger at the striker and says the whole team must shoulder responsibility for this season’s disappointments.

"You can't blame Robin," the midfielder said. "He created chances and normally he'd score but today wasn't to be.

"You're looking for me to blame someone, but as players we're not getting good results. That's the club, that's everyone involved. That's how we're judged and we know that."

He continued: "We've set standards for ourselves as players over the years and this season hasn't gone so well. We are getting shot at and criticised from all angles.

"Everyone is having a bit of a dig and enjoying it. We've got to take it on the chin and bounce back and I'm sure we will."

Carrick was speaking to ITV and Sky Sports.

The Match: Athens Agony

After the match report, we take a more in-depth look at United’s defeat to Olympiacos…

The match Olympiacos began at a brisk pace, which United noticeably tried to manage with a considered possession game. It worked to a point, with the Greek champions struggling to trouble the Reds’ defence. But the visitors weren’t creating any meaningful chances either and the home side will feel their greater industry merited Alejandro Dominguez’s first goal. It became an uphill task soon after the interval when Joel Campbell added a second but what will disappoint David Moyes most is that his team only came to life in the game’s final throes, when Robin van Persie fired over United’s best opportunity.

The goals Olympiacos’ opener was somewhat fortuitous but Dominguez did well to get something on Giannis Maniatis's wayward shot to deflect it past a helpless David De Gea. The hosts’ second goal was a quality strike, though, as Joel Campbell nutmegged Michael Carrick before bending home a left-footed shot.

Star man Nemanja Vidic won almost everything in the air and made several well-timed challenges. His last-ditch tackle to deny Dominguez, after the Argentinian had glided past several players, was exceptional and if anyone did not deserve to be on the losing side, it was the Reds’ captain.

Sub-plot United went into the game as favourites, having topped Group A without defeat, as well as boasting four wins from four previous encounters with Olympiacos. But the Piraeus outfit put in a spirited display to become the first Greek side ever to beat the Reds.

The opposition Shorn of experienced striker Javier Saviola, having already sold Kostas Mitroglou to Fulham, Olympiacos looked a little toothless early on, despite their hustle. But the first goal gave them confidence and they went on to contain their more illustrious opponents relatively comfortably.

Move of the match A neat early exchange between Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney and van Persie was pleasing on the eye but broke down when the latter was unable to get a shot on target, which typified United’s attacking efforts all evening.

In the stands Olympiacos’ famously partisan fans were in full voice well before kick-off and generated a colourful, raucous atmosphere throughout the game, booing heartily every time United were in possession. But the small pocket of travelling Reds did their best to make themselves heard above the din, despite being well outnumbered.

Champions League Quarter-finals 1st Leg: Olympiacos 2 Man. United 0

Manchester United will have to overturn a two-goal deficit to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals after slipping to a first-leg defeat in Athens.

The Reds produced a laboured performance against the Greek champions at Karaiskakis Stadium and succumbed to goals in each half from Alejandro Dominguez and Joel Campbell.

United showed more urgency as the game wore on, but lacked potency in attack and David Moyes will want a big improvement in the second leg at Old Trafford in three weeks.

For most of the first half, both sides struggled to fashion any goalscoring chances of note. Nemanja Vidic made a superb early block to deny Dominguez as he was about to pull the trigger and it took 17 minutes for United to fashion a first half-chance, but Tom Cleverley could only skew a volley over the bar following a corner.

The game was largely being played in the middle third but, as seems to have happened often this season, the Reds fell behind in unfortunate circumstances in the 38th minute as Dominguez diverted Giannis Maniatis' shot past a stranded David De Gea.

United came out after the break with more purpose but were undone again when Campbell bent an excellent shot past an unsighted De Gea. Moyes brought on Danny Welbeck and Shinji Kagawa in a bid to inject some life into his team but home keeper Roberto remained untroubled and Michael Olaitan came within inches of scoring Olympiacos’ third.

United suddenly sprung into life with 10 minutes left and Robin van Persie missed a golden opportunity to net a vital away goal, blasting over from 12 yards after controlling Chris Smalling’s cross. It summed up a miserable evening but the Reds will have another bite at the cherry on 19 March.

FA Investigate Coin Throwing Incident Involving Wayne Rooney At Crystal Palace

The Football Association has launched an investigation into a coin-throwing incident at Selhurst Park on Saturday which has led to the arrest of a Crystal Palace fan.

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was the target of home fans as he prepared to take a corner during the Premier League match.

The England international informed the referee that missiles were being thrown at him and the FA is now waiting for a report into the matter.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police confirmed late on Monday that a man had been arrested and was being questioned in connection with the incident.

The spokesman said: "We continue to liaise with club officials and the referee over allegations of coin throwing at the match.

"We will continue to make further enquiries over the coming days."

Palace are unlikely to be charged unless an investigation decides the club was negligent, while co-chairman Steve Browett has vowed to ban any Eagles' fans foudn guilty of throwing coins during the Sky Live game.

Speaking about a pre-match display organised by fans, he said on the Crystal Palace 'Five Year Plan' podcast: "I was really angry because you've got guys who worked through the night on Friday night, they have worked really hard on that display.

"They've spent hundreds, thousands of hours getting that display right and you turn on Match of the Day and they don't even mention it, all you see is some t**t throwing a coin at Wayne Rooney.

"One idiot has screwed it up for everybody else and it makes me so angry. I hope somebody turns him in because he's not welcome at Selhurst Park."

Police are still looking into a similar incident at Arsenal's FA Cup clash with Tottenham last month when items were thrown by Spurs fans as Theo Walcott was being carried off the pitch.

The Giggs Omen

Ryan Giggs has a 100% winning record versus Olympiakos. Could he be Manchester United's lucky charm as history repeats itself in a period of transition?

In what has been almost a quarter-of-a-Century at Manchester United, in more than 950 appearances and more than 160 goals, Ryan Giggs has faced more opponents than many could contemplate.

There have of course been certain teams against whom the now-40-year-old, who presently combines his ongoing playing career with a role as a United coach, has enjoyed a particularly good record. For example, since the beginning of the Premier League in 1992/93, Giggs has a 100 per cent winning record against Watford, Barnsley, Bradford City, Hull City and Blackpool while he has lost only once in 15 games against Coventry City. Similarly in that era, he has won more games (25) and scored more goals (10) against Tottenham Hotspur than any other English top-flight opponent.

In Europe, Olympiakos are another such club. In United's four meetings with the Greek side, stretching over more than a decade, Giggs has started each game and has been on the winning side on every occasion. It is his best record against any opponent in the UEFA Champions League. Not only that but the Welshman also scored three times in those matches.

It is a positive omen as United, who need some luck in a poor season, prepare to again meet Olympiakos in the European Cup. But perhaps more interestingly, before Tuesday's last 16 first leg at Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis - when Giggs could make his 150th Champions League appearance in what will be United's 250th appearance in the European Cup, is that those past encounters came in the 2001/02 and 2002/03 campaigns. As in the case of the present day, they represented a critical era in the transition of United as a club.

Giggs first faced Olympiakos back in October 2001. It was a group game in Greece. He was not on the scoresheet that evening but played the full match as one of the advanced three in an early Sir Alex Ferguson flirtation with the now common 4-2-3-1 formation. United won the game 2-0 and it was Giggs' cross which led to the first goal from David Beckham, just four days after the England captain's free-kick against Greece had secured qualification for the 2002 World Cup. Andy Cole would make it 2-0 in the 82nd minute.

In the return fixture of that 2001/02 group stage, later in that same month of October 2001, Giggs again played the full 90 minutes. United won this Old Trafford meeting 3-0, securing their qualification for that season's Champions League's next round with a game to spare. But United had left it late to earn the win, with super sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer only opening the scoring in the 79th minute. Giggs' goal was the second in the 88th minute and Ruud van Nistelrooy scored United's third before the final whistle.

United would ultimately progress from that first group stage as runners-up to Deportivo La Coruna and qualification meant a second group stage during UEFA's short-lived experiment with that element of the competition's format. Ferguson's team were even more successful in that second group stage, topping their group ahead of Bayern Munich, and they would also go on to reach the semi-finals before being upset by Bayer Leverkusen on away goals.

Although they did not reach the final, it was clearly a relatively successful 2001/02 European season for United. But it also meant it was a strange campaign when compared to their domestic form.

The 2001/02 season was one of United's evolutionary domestic eras under Ferguson. The United boss had announced at the start of the campaign that he would be retiring when it finished and that decision severally affected United's form. Ferguson would famously perform a U-turn on his decision and went on to manage United for another 11 years before retiring last summer but United still dramatically struggled in the Premier League and FA Cup in 2001/02.

In the Premier League, owing largely to losing six home games, which equalled their record low, United finished third. It was their lowest finish in the Premier League at that time. They were 10 points behind champions Arsenal, who did not lose an away game all season and secured the title with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in their penultimate game, and three points behind runners-up and fierce North West rivals Liverpool. Arsenal were also Double winners after lifting the FA Cup. Meanwhile, United were also dumped out in an early round in the FA Cup, exiting in the fourth round after being beaten by Middlesbrough.

Ferguson's retirement plans, before they were scrapped, appeared to give United's rivals an advantage. But Ray Parlour, who made 40 appearances in all competitions for the Arsenal side who did the Double in 2001/02, remembers he and his team-mates did not view the potential departure of United's manager as an advantage. Parlour, who was speaking at a Vauxhall Football Mash Up event in Paddington, told Sky Sports when asked whether Arsenal viewed it as an advantage: "Not really. All the players at United were top class and knew they still had to do their job. It was always tough playing against United. From 1998 onwards, it was always United against Arsenal for the league so we knew if we could get one over on them, we had an advantage. It was a weird season in 2001/02, because we had won the FA Cup four days before we played United at Old Trafford. We wanted to celebrate the FA Cup but had to play Manchester United on the Wednesday night. We knew we had to go to Old Trafford and get a result. They would have loved to have turned us over that night but we were excellent. We knew we had to be at our best."

Regardless of Parlour's opinion on the Arsenal stance, the history book suggests otherwise. United struggled and the echoes, the prospect of life after Ferguson and domestic shortcomings contrasting against European progress, are similar to this season's current 2013/14 campaign under David Moyes.

United would again find themselves in the same Champions League group as Olympiakos in the 2002/03 season and Giggs once more started in both the home and away matches. In the first game, this time in October 2002, with United unusually playing in their changed away blue kit at Old Trafford due to the referee deeming an apparent clash between their home shirts and a red stripe in Olympiakos' shorts, Giggs was substituted after 69 minutes. However, this was more in appreciation of his performance than a negative reflection.

Giggs was enjoying a rejuvenation in form which had also brought about an uplift in the fortunes of the non-retiring Ferguson's United. It had previously been a scruffy start to the campaign, which had seen them drop 10 points in their first six Premier League games despite the record-breaking summer signing of £30million Rio Ferdinand. United had also begun the season with a shock 1-0 first-leg loss to Hungarian minnows Zalaegerszeg in the Champions League qualifiers before coming back to win the second leg 5-0.

That first game against Olympiakos in 2002/03 was the fifth in a run of seven wins in nine-games unbeaten in all competitions and Giggs had already scored twice by the time he was substituted. Firstly, he reacted the quickest to finish from close range following Paul Scholes' square ball in the 19th minute and, secondly, he was credited with another goal in the 67th minute despite his cross-shot appearing to deflect off Olympiakos defender Georgios Amanatidis. Juan Sebastian Veron and Solskjaer were United's other goalscorers on the night as Olympiakos were beaten 4-0.

In the return game in Greece later that October, Giggs did not score and was substituted in the 63rd minute. This was because United were cruising and two goals in front through efforts from Laurent Blanc and, again, Veron. However, Giggs' departure from the field represented a change in fortune and Olympiakos fought back to 2-2. Paul Scholes duly had to give United a trademark, dramatic 3-2 victory with an 84th minute winner to secure qualification. United would go on to top the group and once again did likewise in the second group stage ahead of Juventus. However, they would lose a thrilling quarter-final 6-5 on aggregate to Real Madrid courtesy of Brazil legend Ronaldo's famous hat-trick at Old Trafford.

But unlike the previous season, when European success was contrary to domestic form, United would win the Premier League having overtaken Arsenal. There had been a 15-point swing in points, with United lifting the title ahead of Arsene Wenger's dethroned champions by five points. United had gone out in the fifth round of the FA Cup after losing to holders Arsenal, who would also defend the cup, but they enjoyed a relatively good season in the League Cup. United reached the final in that competition before suffering a painful defeat by Liverpool.

Amid all of this, and while United were changing around him with fortunes going up and down, Giggs had been a presence, playing 128 club games, excluding the Community Shield, between 2001/02 and 2002/03.

Moyes is no doubt sick of being reminded of his club's history and it is folly to suggest the past is repeating itself amid the current turmoil at Old Trafford. But it could be possible to look at the transition between 2001/02 and 2002/03 - the managerial uncertainty which shrouded that time, and domestic struggles in contrast to European success - in an optimistic sense. And any extra positives are an advantage in what is proving to be Moyes' tricky first season in charge. Giggs' past 100 per cent record versus Olympiakos offers encouragement but so too do those similarities to the past.

United progressed as winners of this season's relatively-straightforward Champions League Group A without too much fuss and it means they will again meet Olympiakos in European competition. They are favourites to beat Michel's side regardless of the Greeks enjoying far better domestic form this season, having dropped only four points in their domestic top flight alongside a 100 per cent home record.

Given the completely unpredictable nature of United this season, and regardless of the Old Trafford club's overall unbeaten record against Greek opposition in all competitions, anything could happen in the Champions League and beyond. But Moyes' United could do worse than have yet another look at history.

Credit: Skysports.com

Star Strikers Can Inspire Reds

David Moyes says Wayne Rooney's partnership with Robin van Persie is central to Manchester United's UEFA Champions League chances.

The strikers formed a fine alliance during the 2012/13 campaign and both quickly reached double figures earlier this term, but they have barely played together over the winter due to injury. However, both men have featured in United's last five matches.

Speaking on the eve of United's first leg encounter with Olympiacos, Reds boss Moyes explained why their form is absolutely central to his hopes of European glory.

"They're both vital to a lot of the things we do," the boss told reporters during a press conference at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens. "They're both excellent players. Our record with them is far better than our record without them, that's for sure.

"Both have had injuries, Robin much longer than Wayne, and both have got themselves back into shape. They're both goalscorers and they're scoring goals, which is great for us. That's why they're top players – they score in big games and make the big moments."

After discussing why he won't be happy until winning a second Champions League winners' medal, Rooney echoed a similar sentiment to his manager and praised his Dutch team-mate van Persie.

"Robin's a fantastic player, one of the best goalscorers in world football. As the manager said, we have a good record when we play together. Unfortunately we had injuries at a similar time this season. Hopefully we can both stay fit and help us win games."

The pair have scored 26 goals in 50 matches between them this season and while only three (Rooney, two; van Persie, one) have come in the Champions League, Rooney was the competition's most creative player in the group stages, assisting six goals.

"If we're both playing then we'll score goals, that's for sure," adds Rooney. "But we also have other forwards who can come in and do a good job. It's important we play well – then that will help other players around us play well too."

More: Moyes: Jones and Evans out | Rooney: One is never enough

Rooney: One Is Not Enough

Wayne Rooney says it is not enough to win just one UEFA Champions League and the United striker is determined to go all the way this season.

Rooney lifted the trophy in 2008 following a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow and has since gone close to doubling his medals tally, having lost in the 2009 and 2011 finals to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.

On the eve of United’s round of 16 match with Olympiacos, who are top of the Greek Super League and unbeaten all season, the 28-year-old England star explained why the taste of continental success has left him hungry for more.

“You always want to win,” Wayne told reporters at the Karaiskakis Stadium. “One is never enough, especially at this club. You have to keep trying to get into those finals. The feeling you get when you win the trophy is incredible.

"There's no way you want to stop at one. You want to win every year. That's impossible, but if we can get to the final that will be great. It's an opportunity to win another trophy. Hopefully we can do that.”

Having sailed through Group A by picking up 14 points from a possible 18 - finishing comfortably ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Sociedad – Rooney feels United should be confident in the knockout stages.

“I think we have the quality to go really far,” he said. “The main aim is to get the right result on Tuesday and then take each game as it comes. The year Chelsea won it they nearly went out about three times. You just have to keep going, whether or not we get the right result or not. We're looking to get the victory and then progress to the quarter-finals.”

Cup-tied Mata Stays Home

Each week, Juan Mata keeps Manchester United fans around the world up to date with his own personal blog. In this extract, he discusses his cup-tied absence from the Reds' Champions League trip to Greece but says he's confident his team-mates will return with a positive result...

Today my team-mates are packing for the trip to Athens, but I can’t go with them so I’ll stay in Manchester and support them from home. As you know, since I played the group stage with Chelsea I can’t participate in the same competition with my new team. It’s a shame because a Champions League match is always special and I keep good memories of this tournament that I was able to win just a couple of seasons ago.

I've noticed that my team-mates are very excited about going through little by little. I hope we can do it. I’ll be supporting United from here as any other fan.

At Karaiskakis, the team will face a tough opponent: Olympiacos are leaders and reigning champions in Greece. Mitroglou – their top goalscorer – and Weiss left the club in January, but they have signed two good players, Valdez and Hernán Pérez. Olympiacos have a Spanish flavour with several players that have been in La Liga: Roberto, Saviola, Chori, David Fuster and Joel Campbell. The same can be said about the staff: the manager is Míchel, whom I met in Real Madrid Castilla.

I’ll bite my nails nervously watching the game on telly. I will feel the same as you. But we feel encouraged ahead of this game thanks to some good training days and a very important win at Crystal Palace. These three points gave us a lot of confidence. I think the team was solid and it was a clear victory.

The game was special for Rooney after his recent renewal, and he was very happy. He deserves it; he is a model player in this club and it’s a privilege to have him with us now and in the coming years.

Me, personally, after five games with the team I feel there is more and more understanding with my team-mates on the pitch. The truth is, with a squad of such quality everything is easier.

Kagawa: First Leg Is Key

Shinji Kagawa believes a positive result for Manchester United in Tuesday's away leg against Olympiacos would go a long way towards securing a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Kagawa is hoping to return to make his sixth appearance in Europe this season, having not featured for the Reds at all since the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Sunderland on 22 January.

The Japanese playmaker is keen for United to go further in the Champions League than in his first season, when Real Madrid ended the Reds' hopes at the last 16 stage.

But he expects a tough encounter at the Karaiskakis Stadium, where Olympiacos have lost just once in 19 home games this season in all competitions – that solitary defeat was at the hands of runaway Group C winners Paris Saint-Germain.

"When you get to this stage in the competition you can't afford any slip-ups or you're out," Kagawa told ManUtd.com. "The away leg is very important – we need to get a good result there. We have a lot of experienced players in our squad who will hopefully help us to achieve that.

"Our Champions League campaign ended at the last 16 stage last season, so we want to go further this time.

"Olympiacos are a good team and there are no easy games in this competition – we all know that. So we have to prepare as well as we can."

Vidic Hoping To Leave Manchester United On A High

Nemanja Vidic hopes he can bring the curtain down on his Manchester United career by claiming another European crown.

The Serbian centre-half is to leave Old Trafford at the end of his contract in the summer after eight years in English football.

During that time he has enjoyed five Premier League titles, three League Cup successes, one Club World Cup triumph and a UEFA Champions League win in 2008.

If he is to sign off in style this summer, continental glory represents his only chance of lifting more major silverware.

Vidic is convinced that United, for all of their league struggles this term, can go all the way, with the first leg of a last-16 showdown with Olympiakos providing the next step on the road to Lisbon.

He said after Saturday's 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace of his desire to end on a high: "That would be great, but to be fair, I believe we can do something special in the Champions League, I really do.

"If we play solid like we did today, keep our shape, I think we will be a hard team to beat.

"We always have people who can score and that is the way you play in the Champions League - be hard to beat, but be able to score. It's the only trophy we can win now.

"Olympiakos is a tough game away from home. It is hostile and it is difficult to play there, but if we get a good result we can come back to Old Trafford and finish the game.

"To win the Champions League, you have to defend well as a team. This is the way you should play and that is encouraging for us before we go to Greece."

Winning the Champions League is likely to represent United's best chance of returning to the competition in 2014/15, but Vidic is refusing to throw in the towel on their efforts to squeeze into the Premier League's top four - despite an 11-point gap separating them from fourth-placed Liverpool.

He added: "It is difficult because we are behind and we just have to focus on doing the best we can to get fourth spot.

"It is not going to be an easy task, but we play against Liverpool at Old Trafford soon and I think that is going to be an important match for us."

Moyes: Mata A Miss In Europe

David Moyes has admitted it is frustrating that he will be without Juan Mata in the UEFA Champions League but he still believes Manchester United can challenge for European glory.

Mata is cup-tied for the Champions League after signing from Chelsea in January, but Moyes has defended the decision to bring in the Spaniard when they did for a club-record fee.

He accepts that not many major signings are made in the winter, but insists it was too good an opportunity to miss.

"We wanted to get Mata when we could and that was the January transfer window," said the United boss.

"Yes, it's a frustration we can't use him in the Champions League and that's why you hear people saying January isn't a great time to buy.

"Most of the clubs are trying to buy players who aren't Champions League cup-tied.

"But the better ones tend to be - like Juan. We are trying to buy that type of talent, so as I say, we wanted to get him early when we could."

United are struggling to qualify for next season's Champions League by virtue of finishing in the top four of the Premier League, but Moyes believes they could still get there by winning this season's competition.

The Red Devils safely negotiated their group before Christmas and have been drawn to face Olympiakos in the last 16, with the first leg taking place in Greece on Tuesday.

Moyes said: "We performed well in the group games, when we finished top. That was the first aim.

"And in any cup competition you have a chance - the best team doesn't always get to the final. Look at the FA Cup Final last season, when Wigan beat Manchester City.

"We now have to try to beat Olympiakos over two legs and that will be no mean feat, because they are undoubtedly the best team in Greece and a lot of their players will be going to the World Cup as part of the Greek squad.

"Everyone in this competition wants to win it and we will try to do that.

"Teams don't want to play Manchester United, because they know what this club stands for.

"And the only thing domestically that I am concentrating on is trying to finish fourth and getting that Champions League spot."

Rooney Receives Support Of Captain Nemanja Vidic

Nemanja Vidic has backed Wayne Rooney to play a key role at Manchester United after signing his new deal and would not be surprised if he becomes captain.

Vidic is the current skipper at Old Trafford but will be moving on at the end of the season and David Moyes will have to choose someone new to wear the armband.

Rooney is a leading candidate after this week putting pen to paper on a long-term contract extension to commit his future to United until 2019.

Vidic believes it was vital for the club to secure the striker's services and has given his support to the England international.

"Wayne is a big player and it is important for him to stay," Vidic told Sky Sports News after Rooney celebrated his new deal with a goal in Saturday's 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace.

"Wayne has signed a long-term contract and he will be one of the most important players in the next few years."

Questioned on the possibility of Rooney replacing him as captain, Vidic added: "Obviously it is the manager's decision and he has to choose his captain.

"Wayne is one of the leaders in the team and I will not be surprised if he becomes captain."

Moyes Checks On Trio

David Moyes will check on the fitness of defensive trio Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Rafael before finalising his plans for the Champions League trip to Olympiacos.

The Reds fly to Greece on Monday for the first leg of the last 16 encounter on the back of a convincing win at Crystal Palace thanks to second-half goals from Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney.

Evans, Jones and Rafael all missed the victory in the capital but United still kept a clean sheet.

"We’ve got a few injuries but I’m hoping we might get a few of them back for Tuesday," stated the boss. "We’ll get a chance to see how Jonny Evans, Phil Jones and Rafael are on Sunday and see if they can join us.

"We’ve got a tough European game coming up on Tuesday now. I wanted to win [at Palace] so we could go into it in form and with confidence. It’s such a big game for us. We hadn’t played for 10 days before Saturday, so I wanted to make sure all the players were ready and will be ready to perform again on Tuesday."

Moyes Targets European Crown

David Moyes says his Manchester United players will do their utmost to win this season's UEFA Champions League, though the boss is wary of overlooking Tuesday's round of 16 opponents Olympiacos.

United sailed through the group stages of the prestigious competition with 14 points from a possible 18 - finishing comfortably ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Sociedad - to book a second round tie with the Greek champions. While the boss acknowledges it will be difficult to go all the way to Lisbon, where the showpiece finale will be held, he believes United’s pedigree in Europe makes the club a force to be reckoned with.

“Everybody wants to win it and we’ll try to do it," Moyes says. "I never said we would or we can but we’ll be in there. Teams don’t want to play Manchester United. They know what it stands for as they have been successful. I hope we can play well enough to get through this round and see what happens next."

Olympiacos will face United without former top scorer Konstantinos Mitroglou, who signed for Fulham in January. While that sale has obvious benefits, Moyes concedes it also poses a scouting dilemma.

“They are really good and have had a great record. They are undoubtedly the best team in Greece, no question about it. They also have a lot of Greek internationals who will go to the World Cup and it will be a really tough game," he added.

“Mitroglou was a really good goalscorer for them and a main player. Does it weaken them? I think they’d rather have him than not but probably felt the offer was so good they had to take it. Since then, they’ve brought in two or three other players as well and I couldn’t be sure who will and won’t play.”

Rooney's Hopes For Fab Four

Wayne Rooney is hoping Manchester United's exciting attacking quartet can keep improving in the coming weeks.

Adnan Januzaj's inclusion in Saturday's 2-0 triumph at Crystal Palace ensured he, Rooney, Robin van Persie and record buy Juan Mata started a match together for the first time. The line-up had fans salivating at the prospect of seeing the new 'fab four' in action and there were encouraging signs at Selhurst Park.

"We've been working hard in training on doing that [having a good understanding]," Rooney told MUTV. "Making sure we keep the ball better around their penalty box and then trying to create chances. I thought we did it quite well. It can better but I thought we did well and I’m really pleased."

Rooney's outstanding strike was a first of 2014 for the fit-again striker and ensures he heads into Tuesday's Champions League tie at Olympiacos in confident mood.

"Sometimes they can be difficult coming across your body," he explained. "Thankfully, I got a nice connection on it. It went in so obviously I’m delighted.

"Tuesday is a massive game for us. We want to be going into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It’ll be tough but we’ll get the Palace match out of our system, prepare well and we’ll be ready."

Evra Hails Job Well Done

Patrice Evra was happy to praise his team mates following Manchester United's hard-earned 2-0 win at Crystal Palace.

The France international was involved in both goals, with a penetrating run ended by a foul from Marouane Chamakh to earn a penalty that Robin van Persie coolly converted.

Then a pull-back from the byline was superbly volleyed home by Wayne Rooney to double the lead six minutes later. In defence, he helped the Reds to a second straight clean sheet.

"It was job done," Evra told MUTV. "It was really important, we have had some bad results and tonight we could not afford another defeat. I think we saw a strong Manchester United, confident to play with the ball, and I'm really pleased for all the lads."

Evra was selected as Man of the Match by Sky Sports, while Rooney got the nod from the club’s fans via its social media channels, but the left-back was firmly focused on the needs of the team.

"I'm happy to help the team, but most important was the team performance. It does not matter if I'm Man of the Match. I'm just happy with the three points because what matters to me is Man United winning, not Patrice Evra winning Man of the Match.

Rooney's brilliantly-taken goal also earned the seal of approval from the 32-year-old, who is delighted the striker has signed his new long-term contract with the Reds.

"What a great finish it was, my cross was not easy to take, but it was a great volley," added Evra. "He deserved to have a big contract. I’m so happy for him because he is working hard, and it's a good sign for the future of Manchester United, for the fans and for everyone. I'm really pleased with Wazza because he deserves it."

The win over Palace also featured the centre-back pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand starting for the first time since the draw with Real Sociedad on 5 November, and Evra said their experience shone through on a potentially tricky evening in South London.

"It's good to have them back, they looked really strong tonight. We had a lot of experience, and, when Rio came on at Arsenal, I thought he was fantastic. You could see tonight with Rio and Vida in good form that we can be solid and get more clean sheets. But don't forget Chris Smalling can play there, Phil Jones and Jonny Evans can get back from injury. We have good centre-backs and that's important for the team."

Moyes: We Deserved To Win

David Moyes believes that Manchester United fully deserved the 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday, and was delighted to see his side pick up all three points.

Despite dominating for long periods during the game, the Reds' breakthrough didn't arrive until just after the hour mark, when Robin van Persie fired home from the penalty spot following a foul on Patrice Evra.

Moyes says he expected a tough test against a determined Palace defence, but believes his side's performance was deserving of maximum points in south London.

"Crystal Palace, since Tony Pulis took over, has been a difficult place for anyone to come," Moyes told Sky Sports. "They haven't conceded many goals and they made themselves hard to beat again. Thankfully, we got two goals in the second half.

"In the Premier League, getting the first goal is always crucial. The way we played, we thoroughly deserved it. We had made some opportunities, and it was certainly deserved."

Wayne Rooney's unstoppable half-volley settled the contest with 20 minutes remaining, and moved him to within 40 goals of Sir Bobby Charlton's record as the club's all-time top scorer.

The United boss was full of praise for Rooney after the game, and he believes the striker can go on to make history at Old Trafford, after signing a contract extension earlier this week.

"The finish for the second goal was exquisite. Patrice [Evra] did really well to get to the byline and it was a great finish.

"He [Rooney] is a really important player. If you think about the amount of clubs who wanted to sign him, he would have been too difficult to replace. There aren't enough good players out there that you can bring in cheaply or easily. Wayne's one of the top players, he shows it every week. You can see the change in him as a boy, with the leadership that he’s trying to bring to the team. We're on his case, we want him to continue and I'm sure he will, he's a boy who wants to keep getting better.

"He's got a great chance [to make history at the club]. Wayne's been playing unbelievably well this season, let's hope he keeps it up and continues scoring goals.

"I said to everyone from day one that he came in and trained well, he’s never been a problem, and I think the credit should go to the owners for making a stand to keep the best players. We're building a new team, we're keeping the good players, and we'll be adding to it. I think the owners and the board deserve the credit for the deal."

More: Match Report: Palace 0 United 2

Jamie Redknapp: Manchester United Still Have Work To Do

Jamie Redknapp says the win over Crystal Palace was big for Manchester United, but they are still unlikely to get into the top four.

David Moyes' side warmed up for Tuesday's Champions League clash away at Olympiakos with a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Selhurst Park through a Robin van Persie penalty and a fine strike by Wayne Rooney.

The victory sees them go within touching distance of fourth-placed Liverpool, but Sky Sports expert Redknapp says United's team is not as strong as their rivals at this moment and needs more time to gel.

"It's eight points and there's a long way to go. Liverpool have to go to Old Trafford as well," he told Saturday Night Football.

"Anything can happen, but I think with the way Liverpool are playing at the moment and their confidence, they do look like they are ahead of Manchester United at this stage in every department.

"I still feel there's a lot more to come from United and they are finding their way in terms of the relationship between Juan Mata, Rooney and Van Persie.

"I don't feel it worked perfect today, but there were signs. It was a big result for David Moyes."

The home side looked strong in the first half, but the game turned in the 62nd minute when Marouane Chamakh fouled Patrice Evra to concede a penalty.

Palace enjoyed more shots on target than the champions and Redknapp praised their approach to the game - but said United's confidence visibly grew when they got their noses in front.

"The first goal for Manchester United probably came after the best passage of play by Crystal Palace," he added.

"They had corners and balls in the box and it was one lack of concentration by Marouane Chamakh that cost them.

"David Moyes will be delighted. Tuesday is a big night at Olympiakos and it's game by game for Manchester United. They need a bit of confidence and that's exactly what this will do."

Rooney: This Is A Big Result

Wayne Rooney felt it was important that Manchester United made the most of the team's possession against Crystal Palace and clinically took the chances to claim all three points at Selhurst Park.

After Robin van Persie had given the Reds the lead from the penalty spot when Patrice Evra had been fouled in the area by Marouane Chamakh, Rooney hit a beautiful shot into the top corner to seal a solid win.

"Today was a big result for us," Rooney said after the game. "We haven't played in 10 days so it was an important game. It was a good victory, I thought we played well and moved the ball well. It was a good win.

"It had [been tough]. We moved the ball well and could have created more chances," he added on Sky Sports. "Overall, we had it under control and we knew that once we got a goal we could get another and see the game out. It's always important, it's tough to get that first goal, thankfully Robin stuck the penalty away. We managed to get a second and thankfully we got the three points."

Rooney netted his first goal since appearing on the scoresheet against Hull City on Boxing Day, it was an impressive strike, letting Evra's cross from the left move across him but guiding the ball into the top corner. The United no.10 insists his new contract extension had no bearing on his overall performance.

"I just tried to do well for the team and to help us win. Whether I've signed a new deal or not, I always try and give 110% on the pitch and that's what I did," he added. "For my goal, the ball was set up nicely. I knew that if I got decent contact on it, I had a chance. Thankfully it's gone in."

The Match: Reds Raid Palace

After our match report, we assess the finer details of the 2-0 win at Selhurst Park...

The match While United dominated the first half but had nothing to show for it, Palace asserted themselves in the early part of the second – only for their hard work to be completely undone by Marouane Chamakh’s clumsy challenge on Patrice Evra. The resulting goal from the penalty spot changed the momentum of the match, and although the hosts tested David De Gea a couple of times, Wayne Rooney’s brilliantly executed volley clipped the Eagles’ wings for good. Prior to the penalty, United just lacked a bit of a cutting edge given all the possession they had, which would have become more of a worry had Chamakh’s error not stifled Palace’s growing confidence. United ruthlessly exploited the mistake to full effect.

The goals After some high-profile penalty misses in north London in the Champions League on Wednesday, Robin van Persie showed how it should be done south of the river Thames by sending Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni the wrong way to clinically despatch the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. Rooney’s volley was a masterclass of its own as well, with technique, balance and power giving the home side’s stopper absolutely no chance.

Star men Just 24 hours after his new contract was announced, Rooney demonstrated exactly why he will be so important to the club in the years to come. His dominant, forceful performance set the tempo for the Reds from the off, but van Persie seized the moment when it came to turn the game decisively in his side’s favour. Patrice Evra will rarely hit the headlines like Wayne or Robin, but the Frenchman had a hand in both goals, and in defence he dealt with Palace’s threat in typically effective fashion.

Sub-plot The match saw Rooney, van Persie, Juan Mata and Adnan Januzaj start a match together for the first time. What kind of formation would utilise this attacking quartet was an intriguing question, one that was answered by Januzaj sticking to the left flank, while Mata had the freedom to roam across the pitch. Chris Smalling had the licence to make several forays down the wing from right-back but did not deliver the telling final ball, while Marouane Fellaini played further forward than he had done before his two-month absence.

The opposition Sides managed by Tony Pulis are traditionally disciplined, well-organised and energetic, and Palace were no exception to that rule. Soaking up United’s pressure to frustrate was the plan, but Tom Ince was a threat when the home side did get onto the front foot. Van Persie’s penalty prompted a spirited response, but there was no answer to the crushing blow of the second goal.

Move of the match In the first half a lengthy spell of possession ended with van Persie flipping the ball over to Januzaj, who smartly despatched the ball past Speroni – but the goal was chalked off after the ball appeared to be controlled by his arm, with no complaints at all from United.

In the stands The Reds fans who made the lengthy journey to the outskirts of south London gave their side typically vocal backing, while some of the home supporters gave Rooney a hard time at a couple of corners in the first half.

Premier League: Crystal Palace 0 Man. United 2

Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney struck within six minutes of each other to hand Manchester United victory over Crystal Palace.

The Dutchman’s penalty was quickly followed by an unstoppable volley from his strike partner to break down the resilient hosts, and the goals were a relief for the Reds after their spells of possession had not yielded any reward.

Palace soaked up waves of United pressure in the first half, with Rooney’s curling effort from the edge of the box headed away from under his crossbar by Damian Delaney, with Nemanja Vidic heading the rebound just over. David De Gea was largely untested but he was alert enough to parry away a deflection off Chris Smalling, while Marouane Fellaini wasted an opportunity just before the break when the Belgian, back in the side for the first time since 4 December, shot wide after a neat touch from Juan Mata.

Palace went on the attack early in the second half, but the game turned on 62 minutes when a clumsy challenge by Eagles striker Marouane Chamakh on Patrice Evra on the edge of the box resulted in a penalty that van Persie clinically despatched. A curling shot from Cameron Jerome drew a fine save from De Gea low to his left which proved vital when Evra cut the ball back to Rooney, who lashed in a superb volley from just inside the area.

Van Persie struck the bar as United tried to kill the game off, and De Gea was in action again when he denied Yannick Bolasie after a shot through a crowded area. But United saw the game out comfortably to claim three points and move into sixth place.

Why Manchester United Could Not Afford To Let Wayne Rooney Leave

With projected revenues of £420m this year, there is no question Manchester United can afford to make Wayne Rooney the best paid player in the Premier League.

But many people will be asking this weekend if the 28-year-old is really worth all that money?

To answer that you need to separate his value to United right now from how some might view his broader value in the transfer market.

For all the income they generate, United are a club going through a difficult transition. They are way off the pace in the Premier League and struggling to qualify for the Champions League next season.

The financial impact of failure this season will not dent the money making machine that is Old Trafford, but long term decline? That's a very different proposition.

All of this has placed huge pressure on the club's new manager David Moyes and executive vice chairman Ed Woodward to show the club is still a force to be reckoned with despite the retirement of the formidable Sir Alex Ferguson.

The record signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea in the January transfer window was the first part of what Woodward and Moyes hope will be a three-step strategy back to the top.

Rooney's new deal is part two while the summer is phase three. That's when we will really be able to judge how serious the club's American owners, the Glazer family, are about rebuilding United's under-powered squad.

Mata's arrival and Rooney's decision to stay - having been courted first by Manchester City and more recently Chelsea - will surely help the club attract top talent before the start of next season.

The other thing to consider is that Rooney had just 18 months remaining on his previous deal. United knew they faced the possibility of him leaving for nothing. By signing him up for five and-a-half years, they have protected the value of arguably their most valuable and recognisable playing asset.

So while the £85m agreement up to 2019 looks exorbitant, it's probably cheaper than United having to find a replacement in the transfer market and pay his wages. The total cost would have probably been much higher.

It leaves United free to spend their money elsewhere - with midfield and defence arguably a greater priority.

The deal Rooney has signed is, I am told, worth around £250,000 a week in basic salary. What makes the new contract potentially much more lucrative to the England striker is an agreement with the club to market and exploit his individual commercial rights around the world.

This obviously has benefits for both the club and the player but there is no doubting United's hugely successful commercial operation could help take Rooney to a new financial level and certainly on a par with Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

In playing terms it would be hard to argue Rooney is in the same league as those two.
But as things stand he is United's most marketable brand and that is ultimately why the club couldn't afford to let him go.

Gary Neville Hails Moyes After Rooney Commits Future To Manchester United

Gary Neville believes Manchester United manager David Moyes deserves major credit for helping the club tie Wayne Rooney down to a contract "for life."

Rooney has signed a lucrative new contract understood to be worth in the region of £300,000 a week, keeping him at Old Trafford until 2019.

Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News, Neville insisted Rooney's new deal reflects the current market rate for a player of his calibre.

He said: "David Moyes will be delighted. It has been suggested that he can't attract players and that he can't keep people at the club, but that's starting to dwindle away with this signing really.

"He's settled Wayne Rooney down. Credit must go to the manager for getting him into the frame of mind whereby he wants to commit for the rest of his career.

"There's been ups and downs for Wayne Rooney in terms of whether he would stay at United but he has now committed himself for life really by signing this contract.

"The question you've got to ask is how much does it cost to replace him? And the market is demanding, for a player that has scored the goals he has scored in his 10 years at United, you'd be talking £50-£60m.

"They signed Juan Mata for nearly £40m who won't score anywhere near the number of goals Wayne Rooney will score for United.

"I think from that point of view the market forces demand that you have to pay the player what it would cost to replace him."

Rooney is in his 10th season as a Manchester United player but Nevillle believes the biggest challenge of the 28-year-old's club career lies ahead of him.

"Manchester United is the right football club for Wayne Rooney to play his football at," Neville said. "He now just has to go and cement his legend and legacy at the club and the way in which he can do that is by going on and winning further trophies.

"He's put in some great performance for United - 150 goals for the club in nearly 300 matches - but make no mistake about it his biggest challenge is yet to come and that's to put United back up into Champions League football, and obviously back into title winners.

"Wayne Rooney has now got the biggest challenge that he's ever had at Manchester United or in club football.

"For so many years at the club he's been part of championship winning teams and that's under threat like no other time.

"It's been a difficult year for United. Probably the most difficult season for 25 years."

Neville, who is part of Roy Hodgson's England coaching setup, believes the national side also stand to benefit from the timing of Rooney's contract renewal.

"I think from an England perspective it's better that it's been done now," he said. "The idea that he goes into a World Cup summer with a distraction is never good for a player.

"So from an England point of view it's very positive news that this has been put to bed. I think in a World Cup year you want players that are free from injury and aren't distracted."

Wayne: It's A Great Opportunity

Wayne Rooney spoke exclusively to MUTV about signing his new deal…

Congratulations on your new contract, what made you renew?
There was a lot of speculation in the summer but I was pleased when David Moyes came in to the club. I’ve got a great relationship with him and he’s shown a lot of trust and faith in me. Talks have been ongoing for a long time. I’m delighted to be signed up now.

How much are you looking forward to being one of the more senior players?
I’m not that old yet! [Laughs] I’m getting there but I still feel young. Of course, it’s a great responsibility to try to help the younger players. I want to try to get better in myself and try to help the younger players make us successful.

How much are you relishing the chance to break Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record?
It’s great to have the opportunity to try to break those kinds of records. I’m not too far away even though I’ve still got a few goals to go, but I’m confident I can reach it. Hopefully it will happen and if it does it will be a really proud moment.

How important were the fans in your decision?
The fans have been brilliant. I’ve said since day one that they have been brilliant. In particular during the first game of the season at Swansea, when all the speculation was going on, they were outstanding and really showed how much they are behind me and behind the team.

Moyes Hails Rooney Deal

David Moyes tells MUTV he is delighted that Wayne Rooney has signed a four-year contract extension at United...

How pleased are you to have secured Wayne on a long-term deal?
I’m delighted. He’s a world-class player and in my eyes he was never leaving. He was always staying. I want to bring more Wayne Rooneys to Manchester United and have lots of quality footballers here. We certainly didn’t want to lose Wayne.

What do you think he can achieve? He has the ability to break records at this club, doesn’t he?
He has and that is the type of goal we have now given him [with the new deal]. Everyone knows how highly we all regard Sir Bobby here and the likes of George Best and all the greats connected to this football club and Wayne is already a great. But now he has a chance to really prove himself to be one of the legends and to go for Sir Bobby's goals tally.

You’ve talked about his attitude being fantastic from day one, but do you see that aggression and hunger back in his game now?
It was one of the things I thought may have been missing a little bit when I came in. I thought ‘Come on Wayne, go back to the old Wayne Rooney’… rugged, hungry and really committed and with an edge in his play. He had that and I think when you try to take that out of someone it doesn’t work. I think Wayne needs it. He’s been great from day one. There were a lot of days the fans had to be put through talk of ‘Rooney will be leaving’ but not for a minute was it ever right.

How important is Wayne in your future plans for United?
He’s massive for what we want to do. We’ve got Wayne [signed up] and Juan Mata in… we’re having to build again and start again. It’s really important we keep players who we think can do us a job over the coming years and Wayne can certainly do that. He’s maturing as well. I see him now as an all-round team player. You look at the effort and work he is putting in, not just for himself but for the team and I think that’s why the supporters really relate to him. They gave him a great reception at Swansea when he was on the bench in the first game of the season and when he came back into the team my feeling was they saw an energised Wayne Rooney, someone who was committed and someone who was going to try to prove himself if he had to do so.

We’ve seen you sign Juan Mata and now get Wayne signed up – does this send out a bit of a message to the rest of the league?
I don’t really care if it sends out a message to the league, but the message is to all the Manchester United supporters - this is what we’re going to be doing and it will get better. I’m determined to make sure it gets better. I’ve got great support from the owners and from the board, and I can only say it won’t be the last [thing we do], that’s for sure.

Rooney Extends Contract

Wayne Rooney has committed his future to Manchester United by signing a four-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until June 2019. Wayne will also become a club ambassador when he retires from the game.

The 28 year-old striker, signed from Everton in August 2004, has played 430 games for United, scoring 208 goals, a record which already puts him fourth in the club's all-time goalscorer list behind Jack Rowley (211), Denis Law (237) and Bobby Charlton (249).

David Moyes said: "Wayne has been the best player in England since I put him into the Everton first team in 2003. Since becoming United manager in July last year, I have enjoyed working with him and seeing just how he has developed his incredible talent. With his ability, his experience and his desire to succeed, he is a vital part of my plans for the future and I'm absolutely thrilled he has accepted the challenge.

"I said last July that Wayne has an outstanding chance to be a true legend of this club's long and rich history. He is just 42 goals away from overtaking Sir Bobby as our record goalscorer and becoming the first United player to hit 250 goals for the club. These opportunities only come to special players and I'm confident Wayne will set a new record that will take decades to reach. These are really exciting times for everyone connected with the club."

Wayne Rooney said: "I am made up to be staying at United. In August I will have been at the club for 10 years and during that time I have played with some fantastic players and won everything that I hoped I would when I first signed. I now have the chance as one of the club's senior players to help the younger players coming through and to be a part of another great United team.

"The fans have always been a huge part of this club and the support they have given me since my debut against Fenerbahce has been amazing. I am very grateful to all United fans around the world for their continued support.

"I am really excited to be a part of the club's future and want to thank David Moyes and Ed Woodward for their belief and support in me. I am convinced that this is the start of another successful chapter in Manchester United's history."

- New deal commits striker to United until June 2019
- Player has "outstanding chance" to become club's all-time goalscorer
- Ambassadorial role after retirement