Manchester United were worthy champions, insists Moyes

The Scot has hit back at criticism by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and insists the Red Devils deserved to triumph last season under his predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson

David Moyes has hit back at Jose Mourinho's suggestion that Manchester United were not worthy champions last season.

With the two heavyweights of the Premier League set to clash at Old Trafford on Monday evening the Chelsea boss dismissed the Reds' title win last season.

But Moyes has batted away the criticism of his team and predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson, insisting United were the best team in England by some distance.

"If you finish top of the league after 38 games, that’s perhaps proof enough that you’re worthy champions," Moyes told the Daily Mirror.

"United were worthy champions. What did they win it by? 11 points?"

Monday's fixture marks the first "top four clash" of the season and Moyes is relishing the test of facing a strong-looking Chelsea side that have been tipped to finish above United this season.

"It’s a big day for me, but it’s just part of the job at Manchester United," the Scot continued.

"It is fantastic, but in the same breath, it’s early."

Manchester City and Mourinho's Chelsea have both been tipped to finish higher than United this term, but Moyes thinks being written off this early on can only benefit him and his team.

"I think it’s important we realise that we’re quite often being written off," he added. "And I think in the main this club tends to say, 'Well come on then, we’ll show you'.

"That’s in my nature and I know it was in the previous manager’s, too."