Gary Neville insists that Jose Mourinho should be given more time at Manchester United, referencing a bad spell under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Portuguese boss has endured a nightmare start to the 2018/19 campaign, which has seen the Reds fall seven points off the pace at the top of the table after just eight games. United are also knocked out of the League Cup following a defeat on penalties against Championship side Derby County.
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United have already lost to Brighton, Tottenham and West Ham this season along with a disappointing home draw against Wolves. Those results have heaped the pressure on the 55-year-old, who seems to be fighting for his job at Old Trafford.
On Saturday against Newcastle, United forced a dramatic comeback after going 2-0 down inside the first 10 minutes. At the very end, three goals saw Mourinho’s men claim all three points, with the result potentially buying him more time in the dugout.
Former United right-back Neville has backed the enigmatic tactician to turn the club’s fortunes around, just like Ferguson did during a tough period between 2003 and 2006.
“Jose is a serial winner – he’s always won wherever he’s been – and I don’t buy into this theory that Jose Mourinho’s finished, that he’s a manager of yesterday, that Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino are today’s managers,” said Neville, as per the Manchester Evening News.
“I heard that from 2003 to 2006 about Sir Alex Ferguson when Arsene Wenger, Rafa Benitez and Jose Mourinho first came to England and Sir Alex Ferguson didn’t win the title for three years.
“There were suggestions in that period, ‘Oh is this the end of Sir Alex?’ But all it needed was a little bit more time to build a new team and Jose Mourinho needs some time to work it out.
“He needs some time – not to build a new team – but he needs time to work this out.”
Next up for United – following the international break – is an away trip to Chelsea in the Premier League. Mourinho will hope his players show the same fighting attitude as they did in the second half against Newcastle at Old Trafford.
