Moyes set for big Euro stage

David Moyes

Eight years after his false start with Everton, David Moyes steps into the glare of Champions League combat on Tuesday night as Manchester United open their campaign against Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford.

 

Moyes has been desperate to experience the pinnacle of European club football, so much so it was assumed he would leave Goodison Park in the summer before United made their move.

Finally, 15 years after stepping into management with Preston, the Scot gets his chance.

“I am really looking forward to the Champions League,” said Moyes.

“I have been there with Everton but we didn’t quite make the group stages.

“This is something different. I’m now managing a club which is used to getting close to the final stages and I will try and do that again.”

Moyes has already revealed predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson told him a group containing Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Sociedad, in addition to Tuesday’s opponents, is one of the toughest he can imagine.

And whilst Moyes pointed out his opposite number, former Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia, is also a rookie in the competition, it is an indication of the leap he has made that the man he will be most keen to stop on Tuesday, last season’s Bundesliga top scorer Stefan Kiessling, was someone he looked at but knew he could never afford whilst he remained at Everton.

“He has a great goalscoring record,” said Moyes.

“He has a smell for getting on the end of chances and is someone we will need to watch very closely. I didn’t try to sign him though. I never had that much money.”

Moyes’ opposite number Sami Hyypia returns to Old Trafford on Tuesday night hoping his experience is more like his best day against United rather than his worst.