Sir Alex Ferguson believes Jose Mourinho's Manchester United are unlucky not to be challenging Chelsea for the Premier League title after "battering" most of their opponents.
Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford this summer, but the former Chelsea coach currently sits 14 points behind Antonio Conte's league leaders in sixth position.
United have only been beaten three times in the league - the same amount as Chelsea - but eight draws and a lack of goals (33 in 22 games) have hit Mourinho's title hopes in his first season in Manchester.
The Red Devils have been held to draws by Stoke (twice), Liverpool (twice), Everton, West Ham, Arsenal and Burnley, and Ferguson - who won 13 league titles and two Champions Leagues at Old Trafford before stepping down in 2013 - believes Mourinho is making his mark despite some frustrating results.
"You can see he has got to grips with the club," he told BBC Sport.
"The team is playing really well and he has been very unlucky.
"He has had six 1-1 draws and in every game he has battered the opposition.
"If they hadn't had all these draws, they would be there challenging Chelsea. That is the unfortunate part but he is going to have to live with that."
Mourinho and Ferguson had an intense rivalry while the pair battled with United and Chelsea in the mid-2000's, but the United legend says the Portuguese coach is becoming more mature in his approach.
The Premier League defeats which cost Jose Mourinho his job at Chelsea
"I was a little bit different from Jose in the respect that I wanted to build the football club and wanted young players to be part of that," he said.
"Nonetheless, the first team weren't doing great and you have to find solutions to correct that. I think Jose is finding solutions now.
"There was a period earlier in the season when he wasn't getting the decisions and his emotions boiled over. You see him now - he is calm and in control.
"That is the obvious observation I am making of the team now. The team is mirroring its manager.
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"On Saturday at Stoke, they played to the last kick of the ball. They never gave in and got their rewards to take something from the game with that great Rooney goal.
"And did you see what he did? Ran to the halfway line. No celebration. Pointed to the ball as if to say 'get it, we are going to win this'. That is exactly the spirit Jose has created."
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