adminLIVERPOOL. — Manchester United manager David Moyes was under fire from all sides as his disastrous reign at Old Trafford reached a new low with defeat at Everton on Sunday.
Jamie Carragher accused Moyes of presiding over the worst Manchester United side for a generation after another abject defeat.
Losing at Moyes’ old club Everton 2-0 on Sunday means United cannot claim fourth spot and will miss out on the Champions League for the first time in 19 years.
Moyes was savaged by former Liverpool defender Carragher, now an analyst for Sky.
“That’s the worst I’ve seen from them over 90 minutes,” said Carragher.
“When I played it was total dominance from Manchester United. I’m looking at this team and wondering why they didn’t play like that when I was playing.
“Shinji Kagawa on the left wing must wonder what this English football is all about. Nobody seems to know what’s going on on the pitch or in the dug-out.
“You can’t see what the plan is, what they’re trying to do.”
With his team contributing one of their most lame performances of the season on Sunday in their 11th league defeat, Moyes also had to contend with news that striker Danny Welbeck wants to leave the club.
Many United fans saw Sunday’s performance as a tipping point and now want Moyes out of Old Trafford as soon as possible. As he approaches the final four games of the season, it looks less and less likely that he will survive.
Saturday’s home game against Norwich is expected to feature the most noticeable fan dissent yet towards the United boss, who refused to answer a question about his future after the defeat. United were undone by first-half goals from Leighton Baines and Kevin Mirallas as Everton kept up their quest for the top four.
Afterwards, Moyes — who was taunted by a man dressed as the Grim Reaper in the crowd — claimed he was happy with the display.
Moyes pleaded with United fans to keep faith with him, saying: “Everybody knows we’re on track to make changes. We’re rebuilding.”
Moyes maintains that there are positives for the club’s fans to cling to despite them being out of contention for the Champions League soccer.
Last season’s champions suffered an 11th English Premier League defeat of the season when they lost 2-0 at Everton on Sunday.
United were already guaranteed their worst points tally since the start of the English Premier League era in 1992 and the result at Goodison Park means that it is no longer possible for them to finish in the top four.
Moyes, however, is adamant that the supporters understand the problems he has faced in taking over from Alex Ferguson and is sure that he can turn the situation around.
“I think everybody knows that we are on track to make changes and do some different things. We are rebuilding. We have got things we want to do,” he said.
“At Everton there were things that were not that good, but there were things that were good. We need to try and get rid of the bad things and do better with the things we should have done.
“The supporters have been incredibly behind the team and supported the team throughout. They understand it has not been good. I recognise it has not been good. It needs to be better.”
Nemanja Vidic is leaving for Inter Milan, and Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand will soon be out of contract, and there were reports in the British media on Sunday that England forward Danny Welbeck will also seek a move at the end of the campaign.
The 23-year-old youth product has two years to run on his contract and is said to be unhappy at Old Trafford.
In response to the reports, Moyes said: “Danny Welbeck is really important to me and I really value him.
“There have been lots of stories. I can only tell you Danny Welbeck is really important to me and really important to Manchester United.”
United only managed two shots on target in a disappointing performance that saw them beaten by a Leighton Baines penalty and a Kevin Mirallas goal.
But despite their lack of attacking thrust, Moyes defended his team’s performance.
“We couldn’t find the telling pass, or clever play in the final third that makes the difference,” said the former Everton manager. I thought we did well. We were the better team at 2-0 down in the first half. We had good play, we had good control of the game, we had the bulk of the ball. I thought the two goals we conceded were rank, rotten.”
Everton are a point behind fourth-place Arsenal with three matches remaining and two points behind third-place Manchester City, who have two matches in hand and visit Goodison Park in a fortnight.
Martinez, whose side also won 1-0 at Old Trafford in December, believes that doing the double over United is further evidence of his team’s progress since he took over last year.
But the Spaniard remains grateful to Moyes for the legacy he left behind after his 11-year spell at Goodison Park.
“We knew that since 1969 we hadn’t done the double over United and that’s when we won the league,” said Martinez.
“It tells you this group is ready to develop into something special. It’s a mental thing for the side if you win the double over the champions. — Mailonline.
Online Reporter