“If I’m honest, I cried when I found out Moyes lost his job”
Marouane Fellaini has revealed that he cried when Manchester United sacked David Moyes in 2014, offering a suggestion as to why he did not succeed in the role.
Moyes – who was appointed in July 2013 – had the difficult job of replacing Sir Alex Ferguson after his 27-year stint as manager of the club came to an end.
Moyes left Everton after 11 years at Goodison Park, joining the Red Devils on a six-year deal.
However, the move failed to work out for either party and Moyes was sacked just 10 months later – having taken charge of 51 matches, winning 26, drawing 10 and losing 15.
The former Preston North End defender was criticised for his style of play, with the 58-year-old only able to achieve a win ratio of 52 per cent during his tenure.
Fellaini also joined United from Everton in the same summer, making a £27.5million transfer after five years on Merseyside.
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The Belgium midfielder revealed how much he liked working with Moyes, suggesting that the job he is currently doing at West Ham is proof of his qualities as a manger.
“I was sad for him when he was sacked because I know how much he wanted to succeed,” Fellaini told The Athletic.
“If you asked all the players at Everton what they think of Moyes, they’ll say how much of a nice person he is.
“He brought me to England, then signed me for Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world. I can never say anything bad about him.
“I’ve said this since the beginning… if you give Moyes time, he will make a team. I’ve watched West Ham a few times this season. They’ve become a side that’s difficult to beat.”
The 33-year-old – who stayed at United for six years before joining Chinese Super League team Shandong Luneng in 2019 – also admitted that he cried when news broke that Moyes had been sacked by the Red Devils.
“If I’m honest, I cried when I found out Moyes lost his job at Manchester United. I thought he was going to stay for a long time,” Fellaini added.
“It was a sad day. I went to his office to say goodbye, before he said bye to everyone. I told him, ‘Good luck’. But it was a difficult time for me.
“Moyes is a top man, he has a big heart. That’s why maybe he didn’t succeed at Manchester United, because he’s too nice.
“He went to Spain, he went to Sunderland and then got the job at West Ham and saved them. Then they changed their manager but Moyes has shown what can happen when you let him build a team.”
Despite difficult spells at Real Sociedad and Sunderland following his United departure, the Scot is once again showing his class since re-joining West Ham for a second stint in 2019.
The Hammers are currently fourth in the Premier League and have won their opening three fixtures in the Europa League, with Moyes just a game away from reaching 1,000 games in management.
Related links:
- David Moyes reveals how Marcelo Bielsa derailed Man Utd title win
- Man Utd had helicopter waiting to hijack Gareth Bale deal, says David Moyes
- Sky Sports retract false claim from Patrice Evra about Wilfried Zaha and David Moyes’ daughter
