Lucescu: give Moyes time

01 October 2013 17:16

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu believes it is unfair to compare the Manchester United 'winning machine' he encountered in 1999 to the one he will face at the Donbass Arena on Wednesday.

Lucescu was in charge of Inter Milan when they met the Red Devils in the Champions League quarter-finals just over 14 years ago.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side emerged triumphant, before recording victories against Juventus and Bayern Munich to lift the trophy for the first time under the Scot, who stood down after 26 years in the job last summer.

The transition is proving to be anything but straightforward.

United have lost three of their opening six Premier League games, their worst start since 1989, and travel to Ukraine with Ferguson's successor David Moyes under huge pressure.

"I played against Manchester United 14 years ago," said Lucescu.

"Then it was a machine for winning trophies.

"It was more of an English team then. Now it's more international, so it's quite difficult to compare these two teams."

A veteran of almost a decade's service at Shakhtar, 68-year-old Lucescu realises how much upheaval Ferguson's exit has caused at the Old Trafford outfit.

"Of course every coach needs some time to look at a new way," he said.

Source: PA