David Moyes has revealed that he intends to stamp a “more British” style on Real Sociedad but assures he will not be stubborn with his tactics.
The former Everton and Manchester United manager is approaching the end of his first season with the San Sebastian outfit, and he hopes to lead a Premier League invasion of La Liga in time for the upcoming campaign.
“I’d like an energetic style, more ‘British’, and they want that, but the ball’s in play less here,” he told the Guardian.
“The game’s constantly stopping, so it’s harder to get that intensity. Players go down and referees allow it. With our British stiff upper lip we see that differently. You want contact.
“[Lionel] Messi’s the best example. Messi gets kicked by everybody and he gets up and carries on. Doesn’t scream, doesn’t fake injury. Others do.
“I’m not the guru coming here telling people what to do, absolutely not. It’s just an opinion. I know I have to adapt.
“Can we play a ‘British’ style? I hope so. I want to play fast, the ball moving, energy. But if you can’t, you change. I may think differently in six months.
“Two years ago, la Real finished fourth. Asier Illarramendi went [to Real Madrid], they finished seventh.
“This year there’s no Antoine Griezmann and no Claudio Bravo. If someone said we’d have Illarramendi, Griezmann and Bravo playing tomorrow, you’d say: ‘oh, boy’.
“I need to find players who can help us return to that level. We don’t need 10, but we certainly need two, three, four.
“I want new analysts. We have a chief scout; I would like another. I’d like scouts in different countries.
“I’ve started to put the [recruitment] process in place and, in time, that will help. That costs but long term it’s cost-saving.
“The TV money changes soon and I’d like us to be ready so that if we do have money to spend we have a process in place. The president’s in favour and so is the sporting director.
“You don’t always get what you want but you work at it. I’ve told the president I want three or four players.
“I’m looking at the English market, players out of contract, boys under 23, people I can get for little money.
“I’m a bit of a threat [to other teams] now because I can go there and bring players to Spain. I’m looking at loans too.
“I’d like to keep my [limited] money for one player, maybe two, but maybe bulk up [the squad] with one or two [loans or free transfers].
“And because la Real has a British tradition I hope it won’t be outrageous if two or three British players end up here.”
