AUSTRALIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United arrive in Australia ahead of their clash against A-League All Stars

Record ID: 336486

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Manchester United arrive in Australia ahead of their clash against A-League All Stars
  • Date: 14th July 2013
  • Summary: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (JULY 14, 2013) (REUTERS) NEW SOUTH WALES SPORTS MINISTER GRAHAM ANNERSLEY (L) ,MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER DAVID MOYES, MANCHESTER UNITED MIDFIELDER RYAN GIGGS, FOOTBALL FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA CHIEF EXECUTIVE DAVID GALLOP (R) SIT AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER DAVID MOYES SAYING: "Well I think, where ever you go the gam
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2013 13:00
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  • Location: Australia
  • Country: Australia
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7HKF8X0ODRU11BGHKYBMXMOPR
  • Story Text: Manchester United arrived in Sydney on Sunday (July 14) ahead of their clash against the A-League All Stars as part of their pre-season tour.
    Manager David Moyes said he would consider it a job well done if he could achieve a quarter of predecessor Alex Ferguson's success at the club after the Scot began his reign at the club with a disappointing 1-0 loss in Bangkok on Saturday (July 13).
    The Singha All-Star XI took the lead early in the second half through Teerathep Winothai and managed to keep the English champions, who were without frontline strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney, at bay.
    United will next play in Sydney on July 20, followed by matches in Yokohama, Osaka and Hong Kong before facing AIK in Stockholm on Aug. 6.
    "Where ever you go the games are really tough, we found out last night in Thailand. You know, we were travelling away, it was the first game for our players, this Saturday will be the second game," Moyes told reporters in Sydney on Sunday (July 14).
    Rooney, who has been the subject of intense transfer rumours since the end of last season, returned home with a hamstring injury hours after arriving in Bangkok, although Dutchman Van Persie will boost Moyes' attacking options when he joins up with the squad in Sydney.
    Moyes took over from Ferguson who had been at Manchester United for 26 years. During that time, Ferguson had won 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League and two Champions League titles.
    "It's my first season as manager of Manchester United. I'm following probably the finest football manager that's ever lived and I'm always saying, you know if I can even win a quarter of what he won I'll have done very well," said Moyes.
    The former Everton manager thanked his colleagues at the club for helping him make a smooth transition as he builds towards the first game of Manchester United's Premier League title defence away to Swansea on Aug. 17.
    "I'm really fortunate that everybody who's working at the club just now is making that easy for me. The players especially have been terrific in what they're doing and we'll be adding one or two more players who've come in to join us who have maybe been away with their international teams over the summer time in the next month or so."
    Hoping to build on the huge success of the club's recent past, Moyes appointed club veteran Ryan Giggs, 39, as player-coach and added former defender Phil Neville to his backroom staff.
    Giggs, who made his senior debut for United in March 1991, is the most decorated player in English soccer with 13 Premier League winner's medals, four FA Cup winner's medals and two Champions League winner's medals among his collection.
    The former Welsh international, having always played under Ferguson, admitted that working with Moyes was different but said he was enjoying the experience.
    "It's obviously strange because I've only had one manager for twenty odd year so, it's strange but we move on and I've really enjoyed it," Giggs said.
    "It's like any other pre-season, you've got to work hard, you've got to knuckle down and prepare yourself as best you can for the first game of the season, Swansea.
    "So, on the pitch it's not been that different really but obviously it's a little bit strange because I've only known one manager so, but, no, I'm enjoying it."
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