Jose holds the key to Red threat

MANCHESTER UNITED will benefit from Jose Mourinho’s European know-how in the Champions League this season.

That’s the view of former United striker Louis Saha who reckons that despite the loss of players with Champions League experience, United have an ace up their sleeve in the shape of manager Mourinho.

Ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho is bidding to win his third European crown with his third different club – and former France international Saha believes that the Old Trafford gaffer will be crucial in this latest assault on the Champions League.

Saha said: “It’s a huge advantage that he has won it before.

“Talking is one thing but making sure the players have enough tools to react at the right moment, to understand the pace and the rhythm they have to play at, is what’s important.

“It’s not easy to understand. When you have an unbalanced side or a young team of players who don’t understand it, it is difficult.

“Manchester United have lost Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra – a lot of players who had bags of Champions League experience. How can you make youngsters understand that?

Exciting

“Winning trophies helps. I think that’s what the manager of Real Madrid has right now with the likes of Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo. “They know what it takes to win. “I feel that Mourinho’s style in Europe will benefit Manchester United. It’s about being composed and prepared.

“And right now Manchester United have the best balance in their side out of all the English teams – and they are the most exciting too.

“But the Premier League and Champions League are completely different. I feel United have a midfield and a strike-force that can hurt any team. It will help also when Zlatan Ibrahimovic comes back in the winter.”

This will be the seventh successive year without an English team in the final should none make it to Kiev next May.

While Saha does not see the favourites and current holders Real Madrid being toppled just yet, he says there is scope for our domestic sides to go deep.

He said: “I think they will do better this season. All of them look stronger this season.

“I think Manchester United will surprise us and maybe Chelsea too will go far.”

Louis Saha has made the Big Call with online betting site BetStars. He is backing Real Madrid to win the Champions League. #Callit at https://www.betstars.uk