Manchester United manager David Moyes has defended his side's disappointing start to the season by claiming that it would have been so under anyone else.

The Red Devils are currently ninth in the Premier League with 22 points from 14 games, 12 points behind leaders Arsenal.

"I'm the manager of Manchester United and I think it was always going to be a bit like that," The Mirror quotes him as saying. "It would have been the case if it was anyone else, because it's a changeover period.

"I think Manchester United supporters understand fully that it was always going to be transitional and that it will be a bumpy road at times. But there's a bigger picture here and we're looking at that as well.

"We've totally focused on winning against Newcastle and climbing the table and, if we do that, we can start looking at what's next. People stand up and be counted and I've no doubt they will do."

Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson as the United manager in the summer.