That’s the verdict of Jamie Carragher – who also believes just two or three signings could be enough to steer United back in the right direction.
Mourinho’s two-and-a-half year reign was ended yesterday with the Portuguese manager relieved of his duties at Old Trafford following a poor first half of the season.
Defeat to old foes Liverpool last weekend leaves them 19 points off the Premier League summit and 11 off the top four after just 17 games this season.
United have endured their worst start to a league season since 1990-91 – when they finished 24 points behind league winners Arsenal down in sixth.
That was the fourth of Ferguson’s 26 years in charge at United, with the legendary Scot having racked up 38 trophies including 13 Premier League titles during his immensely successful spell in charge.
Ferguson is United’s longest serving manager and one of the greatest coaches in the sport’s history having rebuilt his team several times over and still managed to enjoy huge success across three decades with the Red Devils.
Since his departure, United have sacked David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Mourinho as they continue to struggle to recapture former glories.
It was thought a serial winner such as Mourinho could help restore United to the England top-flight’s summit but despite winning the Carabao Cup and Europa League in his first year, the ex-Chelsea boss could not mount a real title challenge during his tenure.
And according to Sky Sports pundit and Liverpool hero Carragher, Ferguson’s triumphs are even more impressive in retrospect of United’s struggles since he retired in 2013.
“This is the third manager since Alex Ferguson moved on. With each passing season a new manager comes in,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“It probably puts Ferguson even higher in the achievements he managed while managing that football club. It’s probably not an easy club to manage.”
And Carragher does not subscribe to the theory that United’s squad is well below the standard required.
He added: “I never feel any problem at a club is as bad as it seems at times. People are talking about United needing £300million or £400m spent but it’s never as bad as it seems.
“Sometimes two or three signings can revitalise a club and get them moving in the right direction.
“Whoever the new manager comes in, there’s a lot of players he can get a lot more out of. This isn’t a poor squad of players.
“It could be better in certain areas but there’s some really good players in that squad. I don’t think Mourinho was getting as much as he can of that squad as he could.
“The new manager will hope to and with the added bonus of two or three players coming in and if they work, I don’t think United will be too far away from the top.”