Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick as Manchester United kept their season alive by storming back to beat Olympiakos. PHOTO: AFP
United have endured a miserable first season under the Scot who was hand-picked by his predecessor Alex Ferguson to succeed him when he retired after 26 years in-charge at Old Trafford.
Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over the Greek champions, which gave United a 3-2 aggregate success and a place in the last-eight, was in marked contrast to their dismal display when they lost 3-0 at home to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday.
“What I am not going to say is that this result is the start of a change in our fortunes, though I hope it is,” Moyes told a news conference.
“There have been a few false starts already this season and while this is a really good result and a really important win I cannot say that everything will change now.
“I have a big job to do here, a lot of changes and it will take time.”
The Liverpool result left United in seventh place in the table, 18 points behind leaders Chelsea and 12 adrift of Manchester City, who occupy the fourth Champions League spot.
Unless they win the Champions League, their only realistic chance of European competition next season is in the second-tier Europa League.
Wednesday’s win kept them in with a chance of lifting the European Cup for the fourth time, but it appears to be a slim one with the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea looking far more likely winners on current form.
Moyes was keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
“We might not be favourites to win the Champions League this season, but if we go into the quarter-finals as underdogs that’s fine by me,” he said.
“With this squad, this club can be more than a match for anyone.”
‘Moaning’ fans dampen Dortmund delight
Borussia Dortmund’s scrappy Champions League triumph over Zenit St Petersburg was good news for a team struggling for form on the domestic front, but ‘moaning’ from a success-spoilt home support has left many players fuming.
Last season’s runners-up reached this year’s quarter-finals after a 2-1 home loss against the Russians on Wednesday gave Dortmund a 5-4 aggregate victory, but the lacklustre performance received a muted response in the often noisy stadium.
“I really do not like this,” midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz told reporters.
“Every time we lost possession you could hear moans in the crowd. We do not need moans, we need support.
“Afterwards you can whistle but during the game we need the support.”
On another note, defender Marcel Schmelzer has joined the growing injury list at Borussia Dortmund and will be sidelined for about four weeks, the club said in a statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 21st, 2014.
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