Manchester United manager David Moyes has questioned whether his team have sufficient class to win the Champions League this season.
United have lost three of their opening six games in the Premier League under Moyes, with the latest setback coming in a 2-1 home defeat to West Brom at Old Trafford on Saturday.
The Premier League champions were unsuccessful in their pursuit of a number of summer transfer targets, with interest in Cesc Fabregas, Leighton Baines and, finally, Ander Herrera all coming to nothing, and Moyes is concerned that his squad may lack the quality to challenge for Europe’s top club prize.
“To win the Champions League, you need five or six world-class players,” he said. “Look at Bayern Munich, they have it. Look at Barcelona, who had it in the past and Real Madrid, who have maybe got it now. That’s the level you have to be at to win it. We’ve not got that yet but what we have got is experience.”
The Red Devils began their Champions League campaign with a 4-2 home win over Bayer Leverkusen earlier this month and face a difficult assignment away to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.
They have not enjoyed great success in either of their previous two European campaigns under former boss Sir Alex Ferguson, going out at the group stage in 2012 and losing in the last 16 to Real Madrid last season.
Domestically, United’s start to the campaign is their worst since the 1989/90 season – one which ended with Ferguson’s first piece of silverware as the club won the FA Cup.
The loss to Albion also meant United are the second top-flight champions, after Blackburn in 1995/96, to begin the following season with three or more defeats in their opening six matches since Leeds in the 1974/75 season.
It has left manager Moyes under intense scrutiny as he tries to fulfil the task of replacing Ferguson. And he accepts the criticism, even if his players under-perform.
“I think the Manchester United players set really high standards, they are all top lads,” added Moyes. “But you’re the manager, you take it, that’s what happens and you know what the consequences are because, if the team loses, it’s always the manager.
“As I said [after City], it’s going to be a bit like this at times, but we’ll get it right in the end. I’m taking over a new team, the team has got a new manager and I think there will be some setbacks along the way. But I think there are other clubs having setbacks as well, not just our club. I think we said at the start it could be a topsy-turvy season and it may well prove to be that.”
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Left-back Alexander Buttner has dismissed talk of any crisis, backing his side to soon find their form. “You have to trust always the players and everyone,” said the defiant Dutchman. “I think we can do this as a team. We are going to win games, I am sure about that.
“No, I don’t think it is a crisis. We have lost games, but we have to focus and fight in every game. Of course the crowd want to see Manchester United winning – the players want that to. If we lose we are not happy, we want to win as well. Our season starts now and we can win many games.”
Despite being eight points behind leaders Arsenal, and just three off the relegation places, midfielder Anderson insists United will still pursue a double dream. “We’ll still be trying to win the league and the Champions League, everything,” said the Brazilian. “We have character here at Manchester United. We are a big club, we have big players here. Everyone knows the situation is not easy, but we just have to think about the next game. Everyone knows what is needed.”
Ironically, Moyes’s counterpart Steve Clarke came under fire after Albion failed to win in any of their opening four league games. “It’s crazy,” said defender Liam Ridgewell. “A couple of results go against you and people suddenly forget how well he did last season. But we have shown what a good side we really are.”
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