Martinez: Moyes will get warm welcome from Everton fans
Roberto Martinez expects David Moyes to receive a warm welcome from Everton fans when he returns to Goodison Park for the first time as Manchester United manager on Sunday.
Moyes’ 11 years in charge of Everton came to an end last summer when he joined United, with Martinez leaving Wigan to take his place.
And the Everton fans are sure to enjoy the fact that it is they rather than United who are challenging for a Champions League place.
It is a huge game for the Toffees after their top-four ambitions were hit by defeat against Crystal Palace on Wednesday but doing the double over United would be the perfect way to respond.
Everton beat United at Old Trafford in December for the first time since 1992 and have not won both league games against the Red Devils since the 1969/70 season.
Martinez said: “Facing the champions is a big enough reason to be excited and to make sure we’ve got the best possible environment at Goodison.
“Having the opportunity to do the double on United is something that is not easy to achieve, and then the return of David Moyes.
“We are a club full of integrity and style, we are a proper football club, so we will show the respect to David Moyes and what he’s done at our football club.”
Asked if he thought Moyes would receive a great reception, Martinez said: “I’m sure he will. His job at Everton deserves that. His work has been terrific.
“We all know he’s the Manchester United manager now and I’m sure that reception will be very much different but as a former Everton manager, every Evertonian has got great memories of the job that he did.”
