Jose Mourinho to Manchester United: Deco predicts former Chelsea manager will restore confidence at Old Trafford

The former Chelsea player has backed Mourinho to be a success should he replace Louis van Gaal 

Simon Rice
Wednesday 24 February 2016 07:55 EST
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Jose Mourinho has been backed to succeed at Manchester United by former Chelsea and Barcelona player Deco.

His countryman, who played under Mourinho at Porto, believes the Special One will restore confidence in the players at Old Trafford if, as expected, he replaces Louis vsn Gaal.

“I think he will change them a lot,” Deco told Squawka. “United need to be back at a high level and Mourinho is the man to do that. He will bring their confidence again, for the players, for the fans, for the people. You cannot win something without it.”

Deco and Mourinho together in 2009
Deco and Mourinho together in 2009 (GETTY IMAGES)

Mourinho is the strong favourite to succeed Van Gaal who appears to have run out of time at Old Trafford. An early exit from the Champions League, form that suggests a top-four finish is beyond them and football regularly branded boring are the main charges against the man who replaced David Moyes.

Ryan Giggs has been proffered as an option to become the next manager, but a likelier guarantee of returning the club to the upper echelons of the game can be found in Mourinho.

Manchester United are understood to be keen on waiting until the summer to change manager to retain a sense of order at the club and Mourinho's latest comments to journalists appear to chime with that logic.

Manchester United are next in action on Thursday when they take on Midtjylland in the second-leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie.

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