UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Moyes hails 'magnificent' United

David Moyes said Manchester United FC had "bounced back with style" in turning round their tie against Olympiacos FC, leaving Míchel to rue "errors at both ends".

Moyes hails 'magnificent' United
Moyes hails 'magnificent' United ©UEFA.com

David Moyes, United manager
The way the players responded after the defeat to Liverpool was great. The fans deserved that because they've been fantastic. We did not play well over there but they put it right tonight. The players gave everything.

The way the players responded after Sunday [pleased me most]. I told the players on Monday morning we have to win 3-0 to give the fans something back. They have been incredible and they deserved it because we've not given them many good nights. We needed to bounce back and we did it with style and played very well. We deservedly got the victory. I thought it was a magnificent team performance. We carried no passengers and everybody fought their corner.

People will probably think it's a turning point in people's careers but I didn't see it like that because the club don't see it like that. I see myself here for a long time. Every time we have a good game we've never backed it up. We are going to keep going in this competition but it's going to be tough. There's a lot of good teams. We know we have a lot of work to do but it's a great result and we want to stay in the competition. The other teams are good now and we look forward to the draw.

It's incredible the number of games [Ryan Giggs] has played in this competition. He was outstanding tonight and had two brilliant passes for the goals. He's a freak. He really is something different. Ryan is not going to go on forever so we have to find the new Ryan Giggs and use other players but we needed his experience tonight.

Only certain players in the world are capable of scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League. Robin van Persie is one of them. [His injury] doesn't look that bad, he's had a knock in and around the knee area, on the back of his knee. He was great tonight; not many people score a hat-trick in the Champions League.

I'm not feeling any pressure from inside the club. We know the job we have to do, it's probably bigger than what I thought when I first came to the club. People are looking for reasons why we are not doing well but it is only because we have not been playing well. I don't see why [United can't win the competition]. If we can play to our capabilities, I think we can be a match for any team.

Míchel, Olympiacos coach
I would like to congratulate my players on their effort. Looking at the result, one might think it was a one-sided match, but that wasn't the case. Football is decided in the two penalty areas and today we committed errors at both ends. We had our chances but failed to convert them. Teams who don't make the most of their scoring opportunities at this level end up paying for it. David de Gea was one of United's best players; perhaps that explains why the final score was 3-0.

We had great expectations and the result let us down. It's too much, it's a harsh punishment for our players who put in a great effort. We went into the match determined to play well at both ends, but we couldn't convert our openings. If I could turn back time, I'd have liked to improve our finishing or avoid the errors we committed in defence. We gave it our all, but in football that is not enough sometimes. We played against top-quality opponents. The sight of my players disappointed in the dressing rooms was painful. Despite our good campaign, I don't have room for positive thoughts right now.

Selected for you