Gary Neville believes there is no reason to doubt Jose Mourinho’s ability to win the Premier League with Manchester United, but doesn’t expect his former club to secure the title this season.
United’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool on Monday leaves the Red Devils seventh in the table, five points behind leaders Manchester City after eight games, but Neville believes the Old Trafford boss will have taken heart from the resilient display at Anfield.
While Neville admitted United probably lack the quality to win the league at the first attempt, despite the £89m arrival of Paul Pogba and the signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the former full back believes Mourinho is taking steps towards United’s first title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
Neville expects Mourinho to receive further backing in the transfer market after what he perceives to be ‘three bad windows’ prior to the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager’s arrival, and sees no reason not to back the Portuguese.
‘It tells you where United are but they aren’t ready (to win the league),’ he said on Sky Sports.
‘It’s like when he went back to Chelsea and admitted he couldn’t win the title. They (United) don’t have the quality. They didn’t get enough set pieces but also failed on the counter attack because players were so deep.
‘Three bad transfer windows at United (prior to Mourinho’s arrival). I think his team will have gone up in his estimations in terms of resilience and in terms of focus.
‘At Chelsea in his first season he signed a few players and then completed the jigsaw in the second season. He’ll know already what he does and doesn’t want.
‘There’s no reason at this stage not to trust Jose Mourinho. He’s got money and they’ll support him in the transfer window… As long as he does win it next season.’
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