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Crespo: Jose and Zlatan a winning combination

Cape Town - Hernan Crespo believes Jose Mourinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic "can turn Manchester United into winners again".

It is all change for the Red Devils this season with Mourinho replacing Louis van Gaal as manager after the Dutchman failed to lead the team to a Champions League position while Ibrahimovic is one of several big-name signings.

The Swede has joined on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain while they have also brought in Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund and Eric Bailly from Villarreal.

While the main aim is to finish at least top-four this season, Mourinho has already set his sights higher and Crespo sees no reason why they can't turn their fortunes around.

The Argentinian played under Mourinho at Chelsea and Inter Milan while he is also a former team-mate at the Nerazzurri.

"It was incredible to work with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and José Mourinho," Crespo wrote in The Guardian.

"They are two winners with great personalities, two real football people. The Manchester United fans can really look forward to having two world-class people at the team, one on the bench and one on the pitch. The two of them can turn Manchester United into winners again.

"That winning mentality is something that has been missing a little during the David Moyes and Louis van Gaal spells in charge and Mourinho, as a manager, is the ideal person to bring it back.

"He is a manager who always knows how to create something special wherever he has been. Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, is a striker who wins games for teams, as simple as that."

He added: "With both José and Ibra you only needed a second to understand them. One little look, one sentence. The most special thing with Mourinho is his ability to create a special bond with every player: he always knew what to say to every player after every game, which was extremely impressive."

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