'Great manager' Jose Mourinho on the road to success at Manchester United, says Gareth Bale

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Gareth Bale has claimed Jose Mourinho is on the road to restoring former glories at Manchester United.

The Real Madrid forward, who Mourinho revealed he wanted to sign earlier this week, suggested United can be a force in the Champions League after beating them in Tuesday’s Super Cup final.

Bale’s future at the Bernabeu has been hotly debated but Zinedine Zidane started the 28-year-old in Macedonia as he gears up for a fifth season in Spain.

Gareth Bale bites his Super Cup winners medal after Real Madrid beat Manchester United

After the defeat in Skopje, Jose Mourinho admitted 'game over' in his club's pursuit of Bale

Bale cracked an effort against the crossbar as Real won their second Super Cup in a row

And Bale believes United are emerging as a threat again. ‘I think it’s getting there, obviously I think by bringing Mourinho in, it’s kind of boosted the club,’ Bale said.

‘Winning a few trophies last year did them great, and I think they’re getting back to where they belong.

‘I see no reason why they can’t challenge, he’s a great manager, he’s done everything in football, he knows what he’s doing and I’m sure he’s building a great team for what he hopes to achieve there.

United manager Mourinho watched on as Bale and Real ran out 2-1 victors at the Philip II Arena

‘They did very well, they gave us a difficult game, and I’m sure they’ll do fantastic this season.’

Real president Florentino Perez quashed any suggestion of Bale departing this month but Mourinho is likely to revisit the possibility next summer. 

Mourinho guided United back into the continent’s premier club competition by lifting the Europa League in May yet tempered immediate expectations.

‘Manchester United are one of the top three football clubs in the world, no doubt about it,’ he said. ‘But the football club is one thing and the team’s credentials going into a competition are another thing entirely.

‘We have a giant on our chest, which is really heavy, but we don’t compare our potential to the biggest clubs in Europe right now. We’ll take it step by step and be humble.

‘The first step is to try to finish in the top three. If we manage that, we’ll try to finish in the top two. Then, when you’re in the Champions League last 16 draw, anything can happen.

‘Playing against the European champions, it’s like we’re back at the theatre, back at that level. This is where we want to be. We’ll improve the team and try to be at that level, to constantly be improving. And I think we’re going to reach that level as a football team in the next couple of years.’