Jose Mourinho backed to bring the good times back to Manchester United by former Chelsea star Florent Malouda
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JOSE MOURINHO can kickstart a new trophy-laden era at Manchester United after removing the fear factor at Old Trafford, says Florent Malouda.
The Portuguese has been tasked with making United a dominant force again after three years of failure under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
The early signs are good with a host of big-name arrivals including £89m world-record signing Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic having been followed up by a 100% start to the new term.
Malouda, a Champions League winner at Chelsea signed by the 'Special One' insists the Blues should NEVER have axed the Portuguese last term.
And the 36-year-old has backed Mourinho, armed with his new star recruits, to drag United out of the shadow hanging over them since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure.
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"It is strange to see him managing Manchester United," said the 80-capped France ace, part of a Delhi Dynamos side who become the first Indian Super League team to face a Premier League club in Saturday's friendly against West Brom at The Hawthorns.
"But I always wish him the best because he is a very good person.
"I know he wants to be successful and I think he is at one of the top clubs, where he always should be.
"He should never have left a top club like Chelsea but that is the manager's life.
"United is a big institution, a club designed to win.
"There was the Sir Alex Ferguson era. Everyone knows about that.
"The transition was difficult after him, which you can easily understand.
"But with Jose Mourinho they have someone with a notion and the capacity to bring it back to where they should be.
"They have top winners from the management through to the players. People with great character.
"They are not scared of pressure and maybe that is what was missing.
"When you see the players United have brought in they are winners.
"With Zlatan, you must respect what he has done in France.
"When you see what Paul Pogba has done at his age (23) at Juventus it is very impressive.
"They will be very dangerous this year in the Premier League."
Mourinho's intense management style drove many in the Stamford Bridge dressing room to the edge last year.
It eventually reached breaking point in December as he struggled to halt the then-champions' shocking slide down the table.
However, Malouda has leapt to the defence of his old boss, adding: "He is someone I respect a lot.
"He is a top coach and a top man as well.
"He is someone who tells the truth. Some might not like that but I really like that in a person.
"This season will be very open.
"I think Chelsea also have a chance with Antonio Conte who is a very good coach too, very competitive and will get the best out of the squad.
"It will be interesting to see Pep Guardiola at Manchester City too."