He also expressed confidence in Mourinho’s coaching ability saying that the Portuguese would have to “galvanise” his boys.
The 39-year-old told Mirror: “Harry Maguire did great at the World Cup but of the players potentially available he would not be my first choice. I would go for Alderweireld, all day long because he is suited to the way United play.
“But it will take more than a quality defender to galvanise them, and this is where you have to respect Mourinho’s track record and his history of winning trophies.
“Do I think he will still be the manager of Manchester United this time next year? Put it this way: I hope so, because if he is still there, it means they have been successful and won something.
“I wouldn’t write him off. He has won 20 trophies as a manager.
“He knows how to galvanise teams by instilling a siege mentality sometimes and he is going to need all his dark arts to create that atmosphere of ‘Manchester United against the world’ to make them formidable again.
“But it’s not just new signings that is going to be the catalyst. It’s the manager who sets the tone, and he’s got a few big issues to address.”
The former Manchester United defender added that Mourinho would have to get Pogba to find his spectacular World Cup form:
“He’s got to get Paul Pogba to play for United the way he did for France at the World Cup.
“The talent at Mourinho’s disposal is undeniable. But can he get the best out of them, and play in a way that maximises their ability?
“It’s going to be a big ask for United to win the title, and I’m afraid I would be surprised if they made serious inroads in the Champions League as well.”
Great