Speaking to reporters ahead of Manchester United’s home game against Aston Villa on Saturday (Watch live, 8:45 a.m. ET on NBCSN and online via Live Extra) under-fire boss David Moyes is defiant after fans have started to revolt.
Plans were revealed on Thursday that an airplane will fly over Old Trafford on Saturday morning with a banner stating “Wrong One -Moyes Out” trailing from it, following the Red Devils’ humiliating defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday.
That loss means United have now lost 10 times in a single PL season for the first time in history, as fans reacted angrily towards Moyes and his predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson after yet another damaging defeat, which leaves their season in tatters once again.
But Moyes is sticking to his guns, and remarkably, he believes the vast majority of United’s supporters are still on his side.
But with banners being flown overhead, and the drone of a propeller plane set to drown out the noise of Manchester United’s home fans on Saturday morning, surely Moyes is in for a tough time?
When asked specifically about the plan from some supporters to publicly show their disdain towards his managerial prowess, Moyes shrugged it off and reinforced his desire to turn things around at United.
“I’ve heard of it and I’ve heard what they’re saying about it [the planned fly past with a banner]. This is a long journey here, and it is only the start of the journey,” Moyes said. “People are entitled to do that and to their opinion. You work hard to get to here in the first place, but I have to say I’m more driven to succeed more than ever because I want to turn the team around and change the position we are in right now. I really believe we can do that. We have a great club which gives us the chance to do that and attract great players to the club. But it is just going to take a little bit of time to get it sorted.”
But when you look at the stats this season, they make grim reading for United’s fans.
The Old Trafford club have lost nine of their 15 games against teams from the top half of the standings this campaign, winning just twice, and have taken a possible 10 points from 45. That is simply not good enough, Moyes knows it and said his players do too.
However, is Man United’s Scottish manager deluding in believing the vast majority of fans are still on his side?
Let’s see how strongly the banner flown above Old Trafford on Saturday is cheered by the 75,000 plus inside the stadium. That’s the litmus test for Moyes’ popularity amongst the United faithful. Another day full of despair could play out for Moyes on Saturday, regardless of what happens on the pitch.