David Moyes ready for first Everton return as Manchester United boss
David Moyes admits he has been unable to go back to Goodison Park on scouting missions ever since he left Everton to join Manchester United.
Moyes will sit in the away dugout at Goodison Park for the first time on Sunday when he takes Manchester United to the club where he spent 11 years as manager.
The last time Moyes set foot inside the stadium was in May last year when he bade an emotional farewell to 40,000 Evertonians following his final game in charge.
All smiles: Manchester United boss David Moyes (left) is returning to Everton for the first time on Sunday
Those Everton fans started to turn against Moyes later that summer when he failed with a £28million bid for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini - an offer the Merseyside club branded 'insulting' and 'derisory'.
Everton fans booed Moyes when they visited Old Trafford in December, and the feeling of resentment towards the Scot has been so strong that he has been unwilling to return to the club ever since his departure.
'I went to see Everton (play) last Saturday at Sunderland, but I've not been back to Goodison this season,' said Moyes, who regularly attends matches to scout opposition players and potential transfer targets.
'I think there was animosity at the way we would have liked to have bought a couple of the players. But some Manchester United players go to Everton, so there is reverse.'
United ended up buying Fellaini for £27.5million but Baines committed his future to Everton.
Waving goodbye: Moyes left as Everton manager at the end of last season after 11 years in charge
While Moyes has struggled in his first season at United, his successor at Goodison Park has been a resounding success.
Everton are just one point behind fourth-place Arsenal and they would have gone into Sunday's game inside the Champions League places had they not lost to Crystal Palace in midweek.
Moyes has been impressed by the job Roberto Martinez has done, but he reminded the Everton faithful that he also brought good times to Goodison Park.
Thumbs up: Under Moyes' successor Roberto Martinez, Everton are in the hunt for a top four finish
'I think it's great credit to Roberto but there was a group of players there who were always capable of improving, getting better and moving further up the league,' he said.
'You have to remember that Everton finished above Liverpool for the last two years and got into the Champions League (qualifying stages in 2005).
'Hopefully in time everyone will look at (my time there) and say it was a really good time in Everton's history.'
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