David Moyes still learning to handle size of Manchester United

(PA)

Having secured his first victory over one of Manchester United’s major rivals, David Moyes admitted he is still coming to terms with the size of the club he has inherited.

Wednesday’s 1-0 League Cup win over Liverpool eased some of the anxiety that has been building up around Old Trafford. However, Moyes said it would take him time to fully find his feet in a dugout that Sir Alex Ferguson filled for a quarter of a century.

“You will never get used to the enormity of this club, not until you have been here a while,” he said. “I have been learning every week since I got here about being the manager of Manchester United. I don’t think that’s going to change for a long time.”

Nevertheless, Moyes’s management style is starting to take effect and he was keen to stress that in the wake of a disastrous Manchester derby no places are guaranteed. “You can use the term rotation but I want to see good form,” he said. “You have got to play and you have got to play well. Sir Alex used his players at the right time and I will try to do the same. But obviously our performance against Manchester City didn’t merit people thinking they will necessarily play in the next game.”

Robin van Persie, who has missed United’s last three games, will be involved against West Bromwich Albion this afternoon, while Moyes (left) has backed his captain Nemanja Vidic, who anchored a defence demolished in the derby. He described the Serb as “the best defender I have worked with” and said he hoped he would be offered a new deal when his contract expires in June.

And he also explained why Wilfried Zaha, Ferguson’s £15m parting gift to United, has yet to make his league debut.

“We have not felt we have had the opportunity to play Zaha,” said Moyes. “I want Wilf to get used to what happens here. The competition is hard and it is important Wilf gets used to the level of training here and the quality of the players.”