Manchester United manager David Moyes has taken full responsibility for the Red Devils’ poor run of form lately, with two draws and two defeats in four Barclays Premier League games since beating Arsenal at Old Trafford on November 10 seeing them slump to ninth in the table.
He said: “I take complete responsibility for the results. Fortunately, they’ve been good in the Champions League but not in the Premier League. I take the responsibility. I would like them to be much better and have no doubt they will.
“I think in recent games we haven’t quite finished the games in the way I’d like to. I have tried to make changes to improve it and that hasn’t quite happened.”
The run of poor form has coincided with an achilles injury to veteran midfielder Michael Carrick leaving United lacking imagination and drive from midfield in domestic games since his absence.
Shinji Kagawa could return to fill that gap after having his stomach pumped by doctors following illness after last Wednesday’s defeat to Everton.
Although domestic results haven’t gone their way recently, United beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 to secure qualification from Group A of the Champions League.
With United needing at least a point to win the group, Tuesday’s final Champions League group game at Old Trafford against Shakhtar Donetsk could see Wayne Rooney return to the starting lineup after suspension alongside Robin Van Persie for the first time since the win against Arsenal.
Van Persie faded towards the end of Saturday’s defeat to Newcastle United and Moyes confessed that he would have preferred to take the Dutchman off after 70 minutes but were chasing the game.
Moyes may have to further reshuffle his pack after Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Chris Smalling missed Monday’s training session ahead of the game. All three are injury doubts and several more of the squad could be looking nervously at the Old Trafford exit next summer if United opt to strengthen the squad during the January transfer window.