Jose Mourinho is the “perfect man” to help Manchester United compete with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City next season, according to former Porto striker Benni McCarthy. Ex-Chelsea boss Mourinho is in talks to replace Louis van Gaal as United manager this summer. McCarthy, 38, played under Mourinho during the Portuguese’s time at Porto. “Mourinho is one of those people who knows how to beat Guardiola’s tactics,” he told BBC Sport.

“When he was at Real Madrid, he beat him a couple of times. At Inter Milan, he also had success against him. At the moment, I can’t see anyone taking on Pep and his tactics at Manchester City. But Mourinho at United, he would have the resources, the players and the financial backing to beat Guardiola.” Former Barcelona coach Guardiola, now in charge of Bayern Munich, will succeed Manuel Pellegrini as City manager in the summer.

Mourinho’s second spell as Chelsea boss ended in December, when he was sacked after losing nine of the season’s first 16 league games. His departure came just seven months after he had won his third Premier League title with the Blues, the first two of which came during his first spell at the club, from 2004-2007. But McCarthy, who won consecutive Portuguese titles as well as the Champions League at Porto, said suggestions his former boss is “damaged goods” are “majorly unfair”. The South African added: “Everywhere he has gone, he has been successful.”

He added: “Manchester United have a lot of young players who want to achieve things and make names for themselves. He would come in and be the perfect man for the job. If the players give him 100% effort and show a willingness to succeed, he could definitely get Manchester United back to being one of those powerhouses in Europe, where teams fear to go.” Mourinho has never spent more than three years in a single spell as manager of a club. But McCarthy feels he is ready for a long-term challenge and thinks Manchester United would be the perfect job for him.

Information took from Jose Mourinho could help Man Utd beat Pep Guardiola – McCarthy – BBC Sport