Stuart Pearce Backs Moyes Amid Dismal Season at Manchester United

Former England defender Stuart Pearce has offered support to David Moyes hailing him as an outstanding manager despite his ongoing troubles at Manchester United.

The Red Devils have slumped way below their table topping performances in the Premier League this season and are languishing in the seventh spot with 48 points from 29 matches. They succumbed to their fifth league defeat at Old Trafford following a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of their fierce rivals Liverpool last Sunday.

The defeat left United 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester City who have played two games less and 18 points behind league leaders Chelsea who have played 30 matches.

However, Pearce believes that the club's hierarchy must give the Glaswegian time to turn things around with new signings in the summer.

"The fact is, David Moyes is an outstanding manager. We should never lose track of that. He has done it consistently for more than a decade. Manchester United are in a difficult transition period at this moment and to follow Ferguson was always going to be a massive ask." Pearce told talkSPORT.

"I hope Manchester United stick with him and give him the opportunity of the summer and the transfer window. He has got an ally in Sir Alex Ferguson who is still a big part of that football club and I would hope he would stay in place," he added.

United currently have a massive task of overturning a 2-0 deficit in the Champions League against Olympiakos when they play host to the Greek champions in the last-16 second leg clash on Wednesday.

Moyes has been under increasing pressure since taking over the United's managerial reins last summer, with former goalkeeper Mark Bosnich suggesting that the 50-year-old could be relieved off his duties if they fail to win their upcoming fixtures. But the former Everton manager remains confident that he will not be axed by the club.

Despite the fingers being pointed at Moyes for United's current woes, former Southampton star Matthew Le Tissier believes that the players must shoulder the blame for the club's dismal season and not the Scotsman.

"The players do have to look at themselves. It's very easy to throw the criticism straight at David Moyes but you cannot just put the entire blame on the manager. There are too many players at the football club who have under-performed this season," Le Tissier explained.