Football
9y

David Moyes admits turning down Premier League offers

Real Sociedad manager David Moyes said he has had offers to return to coach in the Premier League but has opted to stay in San Sebastian, saying "I believe in this project and I believe in my players."

Moyes built a solid reputation over 11 years at Everton between 2002 and 2013 but endured a difficult 10 months at Manchester United, when he replaced legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson before getting sacked in April 2014.

"My first experience in La Liga has been positive. The first six or seven months my wish was to be able to complete a full season, from start to finish, like this one," Moyes said.

"This summer I received a lot of offers to return to the Premier League but I have decided to stay here because I believe in this project and I believe in the players we have. They are players who I know much better now."

Moyes helped keep Real Sociedad out of the relegation zone and into a 12th-place finish last season.

This season, the Anoeta Stadium club have played two scoreless draws against both Deportivo and Sporting Gijon, with Asier Illaramendi making his first appearance for his boyhood club on the second date of fixtures after returning to San Sebastian following a two-year spell at Real Madrid.

"The preseason helped me, not just to get to know what the players are about, but also to understand them on a personal level," he said. "Real Sociedad fans are fantastic; they know that the club is trying to join the other teams who are always in the top part of the table -- to get as close to them as possible."

Moyes does not see the two goalless draws as cause for alarm, but has warned fans and players it is time to course-correct.

"Improving our ability to compete at each match, that is our greatest challenge," Moyes told Spain's El Diario Vasco. "We have to be able to not lose matches that we should be winning a priority knowing that in football two plus two does not always equal four. This season we need to correct that error. We must always compete."

Moyes said he was pleased with the club's defence in not conceding anything to opponents, but added: "We have to improve our attack to generate more shots on goal.

"I am especially happy with the quality of our passing game. The team has taken great strides forward and I am sure that the arrival of Illarramendi has helped us with that. I understand everyone's deception that we have not scored over these first two matches, but we will grow once our players on the attack get to know each other a bit better and they get used to receiving the ball and passing without interruptions.

"It is important not to forget that in the match against Sporting Gijon four new players came in and they need time to adjust to the game and to their teammates."

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