‘I’m more like Mourinho than Guardiola’ – Moyes

• Posted on November 14, 2014November 14, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The 51-year-old Scot was presented by the Basque outfit at Anoeta and revealed his players can expect a tough approach similar to that of the Chelsea manager

David Moyes was officially unveiled as Real Sociedad coach on Thursday afternoon and claimed he’s “more like Jose Mourinho than Pep Guardiola”.

Moyes, who was sacked by Manchester United in April following a troublesome 10-month spell at Old Trafford, was announced by the Basque outfit on Monday as the replacement for Jagoba Arrasate.

Asked whether Real Sociedad fans should expect a coaching style more like Mourinho or Guardiola, Moyes said: “Probably more like Mourinho. I’m tough with the players and I like to work hard.

“I want to enjoy the challenge of getting towards the top of La Liga. I joined a club similar to Real Sociedad in Everton around 12 years ago and I left them challeging near the top. I hope to do the same here.”

And the 51-year-old Scot said he was excited by the challenge of coaching in La Liga.

“What convinced me [to join Real Sociedad] was the president [Jokin Aperribay],” Moyes said. “He was fantastically passionate about the club, about how special it was and what it meant to him.

“It was a big ambition of mine to manage abroad. I’m well rested, I have had six months off and I’m raring to go.”

Moyes revealed he had several offers from the Premier League but was happy to be taking on a new challenge in Spain.

“I never had any doubt,” he said. “I had several offers in the Premier League, but the only place that tugged at the heart strings was Sociedad. Coming here gives me the opportunity to manage in La Liga, which I consider the best league in the world.

“This is a big challenge, an opportunity to show that British managers can manage abroad. I’m always beating the drum about British managers managing abroad, so hopefully I’m the first of many. Hopefully it will make it a lot easier for others to do so as well in the future.”

By Ben Hayward