David Moyes' refusal to blame defeat on injuries shows he is a class act
By Brian Reade
Published 06:04 24/10/09
The next time you hear a manager blame a defeat on injuries (you've only got until tea-time to wait) think of David Moyes. And laugh.
His Everton side went into their Europa League clash at Benfica with no fewer than 11 senior players either injured or ineligible. And were duly slaughtered 5-0.
Despite being shell-shocked on the bench and knowing he had bitterly disappointed Everton's biggest following to a European away game since their 1985 Cup Winners' Cup Final, Moyes refused to get himself off the hook by bemoaning an injury list that made him send out a shower of losers.
Instead he said he was proud of his team and only had praise for every player in it.
If you've ever wondered why Moyes has been named Manager of The Year three times at Everton, despite winning nothing, there's part of the answer.
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