WES: JOSE IS PERFECT FIT
WES BROWN is convinced Jose Mourinho is the man to bring the glory days back to Manchester United. The defender, who spent 15 years at Old Trafford, could face his old team tomorrow when Blackburn host United at Ewood Park in an FA Cup fifth-round clash. United have suffered since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, but have shown shoots of recovery under Mourinho. They still have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League and are in the EFL Cup Final. They also have one ® foot in the Europa League last 16 and can remain on course to win the FA Cup if they get past Brown’s current side.
Fear
He said: “It took them a while to get into it but now they’re on a good run and everyone is starting to feel each other as players.
“It’s taken a good few seasons now and they’re just starting to get the fear factor back.
“They’re not an easy team to beat now, whereas before they were getting pushed over a little bit. Jose is a good fit. I’m sure he wants to bring more players in but at the moment what they set out for at the beginning of the season was to get in the Champions League and they are there or thereabouts now.
“Can they win a treble this season? You’d probably say no at the moment, but you never know.
“They have definitely got the quality, but whether the squad is big enough, I’m not sure. At this part of the season there’s a lot of games flying about, so you have to make sure players are fit and ready to go.”
Brown, 37, is the last remaining squad member from United’s famous 1999 Treble winners still playing.
After five years at Sunderland he was released but signed a one-year deal with Championship strugglers Blackburn and has no thoughts about retiring just yet.
“I’ve always thought if you can carry on, then you do,” added Brown. “I still think I can play, but I’m not as fast as I used to be.
“I have always said with my mates that as soon as we finish, we will start a Sunday league team off. You never know.”