Fergie: Why Moyes is the right man for United

Alex Ferguson has explained his reasoning behind recommending David Moyes as his successor as Manchester United.

Ferguson, who retires after 26 years of unprecedented success at Old Trafford, feels his fellow Scot’s ability to deal with adversity will be an asset in the months and years ahead.

“What I know of David is he’s hard working, there’s an integrity about him, he’s got a work ethic about him and he’s a serious football man,” Ferguson said. “These are qualities he’s going to need.

“If you look at what he’s done at Everton for instance. Eleven years without real financial backing, but he persevered and created some decent teams in the last few years.

“One thing you have to do here is sacrifice and persevere. It’s not always a golden path of riches.

“There are hard days, there are difficult days, there are bad losses.

“Our supporters have suffered many things but they’ve also enjoyed many things.”

Ferguson admitted he was desperate “to go out a winner” after being beaten to the Premier League title by rivals Manchester City last year.

Speaking on stage at the club’s end of season awards ceremony last night, Ferguson told MUTV: “That was an issue when (wife) Cathy and I chatted about this at Christmas. At that point we had a five-point lead and I thought we had a great chance.

“I said ‘I really need to go out a winner. We need to win something’. After the disappointment of last season we couldn’t take a second one.

“I was hopeful we’d win it and we did.”

That need to end on a high note extends to the final game of the Ferguson era at West Brom on Sunday too.

The silverware may have been sewn up already, but Ferguson has no interest in signing off with defeat.

“We need to win the game on Sunday,” he added.

“We won the last home game (against Swansea) and I don’t want to lose my last game, that’s for sure.”