- David Moyes says his slumping team is “desperate” to turn things around
- Man United’s loss to Liverpool leaves the club 12 points behind a Champions League spot
- United must also overturn a 2-0 deficit against Olympiakos to advance in Europe
- United has never lost a home game to Greek opposition in the Champions League
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(CNN) — Manchester United manager David Moyes says he and his slumping team are “desperate” to turn things around — and hopes the reversal of fortune begins in the Champions League.
The defending Premier League champion didn’t lose any ground in the title race — although repeating was already looking unlikely — but the Red Devils did slip 12 points behind a Champions League spot after the most recent round of games last weekend.
And United wasn’t just beaten on Sunday. It was outclassed by arch-rival Liverpool at Old Trafford, 3-0.
While Liverpool routinely threatened thanks to the likes of in-form pair Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, United’s high-profile duo of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie were never a problem for the Reds’ sometimes shaky defense.
With Liverpool controlling the midfield, United struggled to gain a foothold and managed just one shot on target.
“The players are capable of turning it around,” Moyes was quoted as saying by Manchester United’s website. “We’re all desperate to put things right and make sure we play better to give the supporters here something to shout about.”
The manner of the defeat piled more pressure on Moyes, who is in his first season at the helm at Manchester United after replacing managerial great Alex Ferguson.
Former Liverpool defender Alan Hansen Juan Mata
United midfielder Juan Mata, bought in the January transfer window for a club record $ 61 million, said United’s pedigree in Europe — it has amassed three titles in Europe’s top club competition while Olympiacos has yet to make the semifinals — could be a factor.
“Everything went bad (against Liverpool),” Mata wrote in his blog. “It was a tough defeat and I want to tell you that we will give everything we have in order to forget about this in the remaining games. And there is a very important one around the corner.
“We know the history of this club and its achievements, based on a winning spirit. That is what we need to beat Olympiacos and get through in the Champions League.
“The storm will pass and the sun will rise again,” the cup-tied Spaniard also said. “I have no doubt. Besides, no one said this would be easy.”
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