Giggs: Fellaini Was A 'Panic' Signing By David Moyes

Ryan Giggs believes Marouane Fellaini was a "panic" buy and a sign that David Moyes' recruitment strategy at Manchester United "didn't go to plan".

Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson as manager at Old Trafford on 1 July, 2013 and spent £27.5m on Belgian midfielder Fellaini on deadline day.

Giggs, who was player-coach under Moyes, said: "I don't blame David.

"United had signed players late in the window before. This time was different. It was more of a panic."

Fellaini was the only major signing of the summer transfer window and Moyes was sacked in April 2014 after 10 months, with Giggs taking over for the final four games of the season as the club eventually finished seventh in the Premier League.

The 42-year-old Welshman, who spent his entire playing career at United, thinks Moyes was up against it from the start.

Giggs wrote in his Daily Telegraph column: "He came in without any of the inside knowledge about how the squad worked: when certain players needed resting, who was right for which game, who needed to be moved on and who needed to be encouraged.

"Sir Alex might not necessarily have had a first-choice XI but he knew exactly what side was needed for each game, and would have that planned weeks ahead.

"David did not have that information. He started with a blank sheet of paper and for most of the first season we were chasing our best XI, or the right team for the game in question."

Credit: BBC Sport