Gary Neville: David Moyes will be at Manchester United for a minimum of three years

David Moyes pictured during Manchester United’s clash with Shaktar Donetsk

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has stated that David Moyes will be at the helm of affairs at the club for at least three years and feels that his former team can retain their Premier League title, Sky Sports reports.

Moyes has had a difficult start to his United career and has endured three defeats in six opening games – a first for the Premier League.

Neville was at Old Trafford for Sky Sports on Saturday where his ex-team went down 2-1 to West Bromwich Albion, but has stated that the losses will not alarm United’s top brass who are willing to give Moyes time to succeed at the club.

Monday Night Football quoted him as saying: “If you think about the early years of Sir Alex Ferguson, he was allowed to develop into a presence. In the first three or four years he was at the club he was coming under intense pressure.

“David Moyes, there’s no doubt about it, is still learning to come to terms with his squad and getting to know his players and the culture of the club.

“People have said he’s been negative in press conferences and they probably have got a point on that. Manchester United fans don’t like sensible and realistic, they like to dream and they want to hear that the club can win the league and can win the European Cup.

“But he’s finding out about the club and one thing’s for certain; you’ve got Sir Bobby Charlton in the boardroom and Sir Alex Ferguson in the boardroom and David Gill in the boardroom. That manager isn’t going anywhere by the way.

“David Moyes will be given time over three or four years to build a football club and learn the ropes. It takes time and he’ll be given time, just as Arsenal have done with Arsene Wenger.

“I put it towards the players. I know a lot of those players and they’ll be hurting like mad. A lot of players will go before David Moyes goes because, believe me, they will give him time.”

The Reds Devils currently sit at the bottom half of the Premier League, which is dominated by Arsenal and Manchester City, who beat them 4-1 at the Etihad stadium two weeks ago.

Neville thinks that United will perform their famous comebacks and win the title again this season.

He added: “People are saying Manchester City can win the title and they’re only three points in front of Manchester United so I think they can.

“Obviously at the moment there’s an inquest into everything and when the mud’s flying around some of it is going to stick. At the moment they just have to work their way out of it.

“I said at the start of the season that the players are going to have their biggest challenge ever: can they play without Sir Alex Ferguson?

“It’s not just David Moyes by the way; there’s players in there who are incredibly experienced and determined. They’ll be the ones that are hurting, I’m sure. They’ll be at home thinking about the game against Shakhtar and wanting to put it right.”