Manchester United manager David Moyes has admitted that the task of taking over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford has been "harder" than he first thought.

The Red Devils are currently seventh in the Premier League table, 12 points adrift of a Champions League spot.

Pressure on the Scotsman has intensified ahead of Wednesday's crucial Champions League tie against Olympiacos following their 3-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday.

"The job was always going to be hard," Sky Sports News quotes Moyes as saying. "Harder? Yes, I would say so yes."

United, who won the league under Ferguson last season, have not beaten any of the top nine sides in this league campaign, aside from a 1-0 win over Arsenal in November.