PAT Crerand, who helped Manchester United become the second British club to lift the European Cup in 1968 with victory over Benfica at Wembley, believes the Old Trafford club can go far in the Champions League this season thanks to the influence of manager Jose Mourinho.
United qualified to play in the group stages of Europe’s premier club competition despite only finishing sixth in the Barclays Premier League last season thanks to their victory over Ajax in the Europa League final back in May.
Crerand has been pleased with how the English giants have started in Group A – they have beaten Swiss rivals Basel 3-0 at home and defeated CSKA Moscow 4-1 away in Russia last week and are three points clear.
He feels that Mourinho, who won the Champions League during his time in charge of both Porto and Inter Milan, has the experience and know-how needed to take the three-times champions on an extended run in the tournament.
“I don’t think the Premier League in England is particularly great at the moment,” the Scot said. “In the European Cup now you have a situation where realistically only Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain can win it.
“But Manchester United have done very well so far. Jose Mourinho has been terrific. There has only been one game in which we have been battered and that was against Southampton a couple of weeks ago. And what was the final score? It was 1-0 to United. Typical Mourinho. If it isn’t going well then his team will defend like hell.
“I’m delighted. He’s getting the right players in. Manchester United like to charge forward. That is what the fans like to watch. That is what they are doing now. It isn’t often you go away in continental Europe and win 4-0. They could have been seven or eight up last week. They could also do well. Jose certainly has in the past.”
Crerand, who played for Celtic between 1958 and 1963, was also pleased to see Brendan Rodgers’s men defeat Anderlecht in a Champions League group game in Belgium last week.
But the Glaswegian reckons the Scottish champions will have a difficult task qualifying for the last 16 for the fourth time in their history given the quality of the other clubs in Group B.
“It was a terrific win for a Scottish club away from home in Europe,” he said. “Anderlecht is a difficult place to play. But they are in a difficult group. Bayern Munich and PSG? That could end up being the final. They have gone daft with the money they have spent. It’s incredible. It must be great to be a player these days.”
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