London, Aug 2 (IANS): Former Manchester United manager David Moyes has said he was harshly treated during his time at the English Premier League football club and he looks ahead to his new tenure with Sunderland in the forthcoming season.

Moyes opened up on his time at Manchester, where he was sacked less than a season into a six-year deal with.

Dutchman Louis van Gaal eventually replaced Moyes in time for the 2014-15 campaign, though his struggles over the last two seasons convinced the Sunderland coach that he was unfairly treated.

“I've said all along that I was. When you sign a six-year contract and you end up there ten months, yeah, I believe I was. But that is life in football. Ultimately the key is to win football matches. I didn't win enough football matches,” Moyes was quoted as saying by aol.co.uk on Monday.

"You must say there were mitigating circumstances. And I think you could say there are maybe things that have gone on since then, that would actually justify that even more so," said the Scot.

But it is not all bad for Moyes, who said his brief time in the United hot seat did wonders for his career.

Moyes said his spell at Old Trafford gave him a wonderful view of life at the top.

"It gave me an unbelievable idea of what it is at the top. I believe that's where I can work and that's where I should be working, and my level is that, because that is what I saw in the time I was there,” the 53-year-old said.

"You don't get offered those jobs, you don't get offered big jobs, if you've not done something."

"Yeah I am better as a manager. I have had several opportunities, big ones, but timing is so positive. The timing for this job at Sunderland was right. It feels good to me."

After being fired from Manchester, Moyes went on to coach Real Sociedad in La Liga, where he was also sacked after a promising start.