Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)

OOPS GIGGS: UNITED WILL BE WORSE OFF IF THEY GET RID OF JOSE NOW

- BY ROB COLE

RYAN GIGGS is backing Jose Mourinho to keep his job at Manchester United.

The United legend was touted by Graeme Souness as a potential successor to the undersiege Portuguese as the call for change at Old Trafford mounted following the midweek Champions League draw with Valencia.

“I’ve got a job and I’m very happy with Wales,” said Giggs shortly after naming his squad to take on Spain and the Republic of Ireland. “I haven’t changed my view on Jose – I don’t think he should go. Where would Manchester United go?

“They are going through a tough time at the moment but change now and you will be in the same position in a year or two years. I believe he should keep his job.”

United’s drab 0-0 draw with Spanish side Valencia on Wednesday made it four games without a win and saw the pressure increase on Mourinho.

Giggs was joined at the game by a number of other former United greats, such as David Beckham (above) and Nicky Butt, as the ‘Class of 92’ gathered to cast their eye on the current crop. “You can’t say that any of the United players are playing to their full potential. They aren’t and that’s something they need to address both individual­ly and collective­ly,” added Giggs.

“I don’t think any United fan would disagree with that. But if they play to their potential they will start to win.

“You go through difficult times as a group and when you come out of them you sometimes come out stronger.

“I don’t think just sacking a manager and going out and getting someone who is available is the way forward.

“If results and performanc­es continue it will be hard work, but I still believe you shouldn’t just sack the manager because we’ll be at this same stage in a year or two.

“When you don’t win three games, or you lose three games, you are under pressure as a manager. But when you are managing Manchester United the pressure is greater because the spotlight is there.

“Even Sir Alex struggled for the first couple of years. It is easy to point at what Sir Alex did, and he did an amazing job managing all those different personalit­ies and characters, but it is not easy.

“Especially when you are at United.”

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