New Sunderland manager David Moyes has insisted that he was "unfairly treated" during his brief reign at Manchester United.

The Scot was appointed as Sir Alex Ferguson's successor on a six-year deal in 2013 but was sacked just 10 months later as the club limped to a seventh placed finish in the Premier League, their worst performance since the 1989-90 season.

"You don't get offered those big jobs - Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United - for no reason," a defiant Moyes told reporters at his debut press conference for the Black Cats on Monday.

"I've said all along I was unfairly treated there. When you sign a six-year contract and you end up with 10 months ... yeah, I believe I was. I didn't win enough football matches but you must say there were mitigating circumstances. And I think you could say there are maybe things which have gone on since then that would actually justify that even more so.

"What my time at Manchester United gave me is an unbelievable idea of what it is at the top. I believe that's where I can work and that's where I should be working, and my level is that."

Moyes, who reportedly received £5m in compensation after his United contract was terminated, went on to spend a year with La Liga outfit Real Sociedad before being sacked last November.