Man Utd doing fine, will wait for David Moyes: legend Bobby Charlton
IN KUALA LUMPUR
Don’t worry, Manchester United are not in trouble.
“We’re fine, we’re fine,” United’s director of football and English midfield great Sir Bobby Charlton told reporters in Malaysia Wednesday evening, ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards held in Kuala Lumpur.
This despite the Red Devils crashing to a woeful 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford to neighbours and bitter rivals Manchester City – just two weeks after losing to Liverpool by the same scoreline.
“I’m always disappointed when we lose,” was the 76-year-old Charlton’s response to the derby debacle. “But we don’t do it very often, that’s the point.”
One doesn’t even need to be a football fan to realise how completely untrue that has been this season.
Under new manager David Moyes, United are currently dwelling in seventh position, 18 points behind leaders Chelsea and five behind sixth-placed Tottenham with just seven matches to go.
The legacy of Sir Alex Ferguson has crumbled from winning the championship by 11 points last season to potentially missing out on the Europa League – and most definitely finishing with their worst Premier League points haul ever.
With all fingers pointed squarely at the captain of the sinking ship, Moyes, Charlton moved to defend the besieged Scotsman.
“It’s a new change in manager and we have to take this into consideration,” said the club and England’s all-time top-scorer, who spent 17 years at United. “As far as we’re concerned, we’re very patient and we’re quite prepared to wait for him.”
While this may be good news to Moyes, who called for more time to rebuild United after his latest loss, the patience of the Old Trafford faithful is quickly wearing thin.
Humiliation by City saw abuse hurled at Ferguson in the director’s box for the choice of his successor, while some fans had to be restrained as they tried to storm the dugout to insult Moyes.
To that end, Charlton, a World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner in 1966, vowed to do everything within his power to set things straight.
“I don’t like losing,” he said, gravely. “So I’ll try my best not to do it anymore.”
