David Moyes denies calling Everton fans a 'f****** disgrace' after meeting a supporter following Manchester United defeat at Old Trafford

A spokesman confirms the United boss did meet the fan in the Lowry Hotel but completely denies making any remark regarding his former club's supporters

David Moyes must at least ensure that Manchester United qualify for next season's Champions League (Getty Images)

Manchester United manager David Moyes has denied that he labelled Everton fans a f****** disgrace following 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday, in which the former Toffees boss received a hostile reception from his former club’s supporters.

Following the defeat – the first time Everton have triumphed at the Theatre of Dreams in 21 years – Moyes met a fan of the Merseyside club in the Lowry Hotel in Manchester, who proceeded to make the claim that Moyes had described the opposite fans in a foul-mouthed manor via social media site Twitter.

However, a spokesman has since confirmed that although the meeting did take place, the United boss denies have used the phrase and admits that he only had a photograph taken with the fan.

Having spent 11 years at Goodison Park, Moyes was selected to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford following his retirement, though it was his attempts at taking Leighton Baines with him along with the successful pursuit of Marouane Fellaini which annoyed Evertonians most.

During the summer, Moyes commented: “If I’d been Everton manager and Sir Alex had come asking for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini, I’d have found it very difficult to keep them because I always felt the right thing to do was what was right for the players.”

The current Everton captain Phil Jagielka has defended his former manager, claiming he “feels sorry” for Moyes given the tough start to the season he has incurred, and has backed him to get the team firing on all cylinders in the near future.

“I do feel sorry for him,” Jagielka said. “The fixture list wasn’t that kind initially. The transfers in the summer, the people who were making those decisions didn’t help him one bit.

“At Everton, the pressure was not so big initially, he could grow into the season,” said Jagielka. “You can’t grow into the ­season at Manchester United. When you look at how Arsenal have started and Chelsea and teams like that, you can’t give them too much of a lead. I am sure he will get the guys moving in the right direction.”

Despite the pressure mounting on Moyes’ shoulders, club executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has attempted to reduce the expectation of defending their league title by claiming they are in a financial position to cope with missing out on Champions League qualification this season.

The thought of United finishing outside of the top-four would have been absurd last season, but unless they pick up their form which currently sees them languishing in ninth place – 12 points behind leaders Arsenal – they face a real possibility of missing out on Europe all-together.