GREECE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - United's David Moyes says he was surprised he did not see his team's poor performance coming, while Olympiacos coach Michel plays down expectations with second leg to come

Record ID: 336564

  • Title: GREECE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - United's David Moyes says he was surprised he did not see his team's poor performance coming, while Olympiacos coach Michel plays down expectations with second leg to come
  • Date: 26th February 2014
  • Summary: PIREAEUS, GREECE (FEBRUARY 25, 2014) (REUTERS) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER DAVID MOYES ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MANCHESTER UNITED'S MOYES SEATED FOR POST- MATCH NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER DAVID MOYES SAYING: "I am just surprised that I didn't see that level of performance coming, I didn't see that. But I have to say I still don't t
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2014 12:00
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  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA23FTTYZ1ON8FRN8PNZ75L1RX1
  • Story Text: Manchester United's dwindling hopes of lifting a trophy this season are dangling by a thread after they produced an abject display to lose 2-0 at Olympiacos Piraeus in a Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday (February 25).
    Alejandro Dominguez opened the scoring with a clever first-half flick and Arsenal loanee Joel Campbell added a sublime second goal to leave United facing a huge task to overturn the deficit in the return match at Old Trafford on March 19.
    The defeat in the first leg of their last 16, first leg tie left Moyes stunned by the worst performance of a poor season in a competition which remains their only hope of a trophy.

    "I am just surprised that I didn't see that level of performance coming, I didn't see that. But I have to say I still don't think we were necessarily two goals worse off in the game, we have a shot which gets deflected. But we didn't offer enough on the night to create a goal," said United's manager Moyes.

    "I take responsibility. It's my team and I'll always front it up," he added. "We didn't play well tonight and we have to play better. We can do, and the one good thing is there is still a second game to come."
    Defeat at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium represented yet another body blow in an inauspicious campaign for last season's English Premier League title winners.
    United are out of the FA Cup and the League Cup and trail Premier League leaders Chelsea by 15 points with 11 games left to play.
    Moyes's men looked sluggish and disjointed against an inexperienced Olympiakos side who are bidding to reach the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history.
    It was the first time the Greeks had beaten United in five attempts.

    "It is the opponent's size that makes us feel this way. We have had many similar games at this level but to defeat Manchester United in this way is a great achievement for us," said Olympiakos coach Michel.

    "Today's match shows we've done a very good job. I'm obviously very happy with this match, but most of all, I'm proud of my players," added the former Spain and Real Madrid striker.
    But Michel played down the significance of the first leg win, pointing out that Manchester United may well play much better in the second leg on home turf.

    "I see the game in Old Trafford as I saw today's match yesterday," he said. "Whoever believes the 2-0 result gives us more chances is mistaken. A 2-0 score means nothing opposite a team like Manchester United and especially when playing at Old Trafford and all the players know this."
    Olympiakos are runaway leaders in the Greek league having won all 13 of their home games this season, but United beat them in their four previous meetings when the Old Trafford club were a force to be reckoned with in Europe.
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