The Portuguese coach has struggled to inspire a turnaround at Old Trafford since arriving as manager last November and the Red Devils legend thinks he must be given time to bring in his own personnel before his tenure can be judged.

Cantona said: "We have to wait. He did great things at (Sporting) Lisbon and came in during the middle of the season, so he didn't choose a player, I know he's unhappy about the players.

"So we have to wait until this summer. It will be more fair to judge him next season because he has to work with players he didn't choose."

Meanwhile, Cantona revealed that his favourite United goal was the winner against Liverpool in the 1996 FA Cup final that secured the Double for the club following a squad overhaul by manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

He said: "The goal I scored in the FA Cup final against Liverpool because we won the Double, with a new generation of players.

"A golden generation of players and it was their first season. This is the identity of United for me, rich enough to buy the best players in the world, but also they work hard in the time of Sir Alex Ferguson and young players, so for me it was something that I achieved for the project of Ferguson.

"To win the Double with the first season of five or six young players – who were 18 or 19 years old. This is United for me, this is United."