On Saturday, Moyes played against his old club for the 10th time since being sacked by Manchester United, and it was also the first time he had played against the Red Devils with a points lead. Moyes, once seen as a loser, confidently said, "I am confident of beating Manchester United".
Leaving Manchester United as a loser nearly ruined Moyes' coaching career, and he lost his self-confidence at one point. After coaching Real Sociedad, Sunderland and the first time he coached West Ham, Moyes all failed, and led the team to relegation for the first time when coaching Sunderland.
However, 18 months after his dismissal, the Hammers brought back Moyes. This time, Moyes turned the tide, and in the 2020-21 season, the Hammers scored a record 65 points in the Premier League, qualifying for European competition for the first time in team history.
Even so, many people are not optimistic about West Ham. Even in the European and Premier League double-line attacks, West Ham still maintains excellent form, while the defense is solid, the Hammers' attack is also quite sharp. After 22 rounds, West Ham scored 37 points and are expected to break the 60-point mark again and get Champions League tickets.
When Moyes once again proved his coaching ability, the question also came: why did he have such a big problem at Manchester United?
Rathbone may be the right person to answer that question, having spent 30 years in charge, working with Moyes for 15 years and both at Manchester United.
Rathbone, who met Moyes in 1995, revealed, "We spent 15 years together, 7 days a week together. I'm his number one fan. ”
Recalling Moyes' coaching career, Rathbone said, "In the last five months of Ferguson's tenure, United won the Premier League title and then David came in the summer. It was really interesting because we've worked together for 15 years and can read each other's ideas. ”
"I have to say, I didn't see what he did wrong. He was successful in doing the same thing and I didn't see him make any changes at all. ”
Although Moyes' coaching style has been tested for a long time, he has also made him successful at Everton, which has earned Ferguson's trust. However, he did not succeed at Old Trafford.
In 51 games at the helm of Manchester United, Moyes has won just 26 but lost 16. When Moyes was sacked on 22 April 2014, United, as defending champions, were only 7th, 23 points behind the leaders.
Rathbone believes Moyes' Manchester United career is doomed to failure and whoever succeeds Ferguson will go the same way, even Pep Guardiola.
Rathbone pointed out: "It's like a tidal wave and Manchester United's tide is receding. Whoever takes over will usher in such a period after more than 20 years in charge of Ferguson. Unfortunately, whoever takes over will face this. ”
"Louis van Gaal and Mourinho proved it again, they are both world-class managers and they find it really hard. So, I think Moyes got the job right at the wrong time. ”
"But if they give him more time, he'll rebuild Manchester United little by little, and that's what football is, isn't it?"
"Even if Guardiola goes, the same thing will happen. After Ferguson's departure, United will be sluggish for a while, but United will eventually return to the top, won't they? All the great clubs, like AC Milan 20 years ago, like Barca, which are sinking, every club is like that. ”
Rathbone also stressed that "Van Gaal came to Manchester United with an amazing resume, but he did almost nothing. Jose Mourinho, I think he's one of the most successful managers of all time, [at Manchester United] he's finished as a Premier League runner-up, he's won the Europa League, he's not doing badly, but he can't help Manchester United get back to where they were. ”
"Football, when everything is going well, you're like a giant ship, you keep rushing forward, and then inevitably, the giant ship starts to turn. It may take a long time, but in the end, it will come back in the right direction, as it does at every club. ”
When Moyes faced Manchester United again 8 years later, he finally proved that the criticism of him was wrong.
Rathbone noted, "If they give him more time, he will prove what a great manager he is, and now he is proving that." ”
'If he gets more time, he'll build a really good team and won't go crazy in the transfer market.
Sadly, when Moyes regained his confidence after 8 years, United were still not on track.