PHIL NEVILLE does not believe Jose Mourinho’s expected stay at Manchester United will be a long one, but he reckons there is every chance of it being successful.
Mourinho is widely tipped to be named as a replacement for Louis van Gaal in the coming days despite the club’s capture of the FA Cup thanks to a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace after extra-time at the weekend.
The Portuguese coach rarely stays in any one place for an extended period of time, but his confrontational style has brought a remarkable amount of trophies and Neville, a key figure in Sir Alex Ferguson’s dominant United sides, suspects it will deliver again in England.
"I can't see him staying too long at Man United, maybe two or three years,” said Neville. “That seems to be his shelf-life at a football club.
"When Jose finishes at a club, it tends to be a pattern where he falls out with a few players, he gets disgruntled and the team dips.
"It happened at Chelsea. It certainly happened at Real Madrid where there were rumours he fell out with a few players.
"It's a pattern with Jose. He comes into a club, he gets success, but he doesn't stay for too long.
"He's a proven winner, a proven champion. United fans want a team that will challenge for the league title, not a team that finishes seventh or fifth, and Jose is probably the man for the job.
"Knowing Jose as I do, I think he will have done his homework and he's meticulous in his planning.
"Don't be surprised if United in the next month, and particularly before the Euros, sign three or four players and when he gets to pre-season he has his squad already in place.
"He knows who he wants and will demand United sign those players for United to become championship challengers again."
One report has even stated that he is considering Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, fresh from leaving Paris Saint Germain, as his assistant.
Van Gaal, meanwhile, declared "it's over" yesterday morning as he was approached by TV cameras outside United’s team hotel in London.
It was later claimed that he was referring to the season rather than his time in charge, but the comment sparked a fresh wave of speculation over his future.
Van Gaal still has a season remaining on his three-year deal, while Mourinho has been out of work since paying for Chelsea's abysmal title defence in December.
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