MOYES: JOSE NEEDS TIME

SUNDERLAND manager David Moyes believes Jose Mourinho’s problems at Manchester United prove that criticism of his own tenure was unfair. The Scot inherited the Premier League champions from Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2013 but lasted only 10 months before being sacked with the team seventh in the table. Louis van Gaal succeeded Moyes but he was dismissed after two seasons. Mourinho, though, has the worst record of all three managers to follow Ferguson, with Thursday’s defeat at Fenerbahce his fifth loss in 16 games. Moyes said: ‘It does show that maybe it wasn’t just down to David Moyes. I’ve always felt that it wasn’t just my fault and that it would take time. The United job will be tough for anybody who takes it, whether it be Jose or Louis or me, because you’re following the finest manager in our time. ‘Jose’s a top manager, as was Van Gaal, but it’s difficult for whoever goes there.’ Moyes believes United should stand by Mourinho. He said: ‘United need stability, and it’s a football club that has always trusted itself and trusted its managers.’