Schmeichel: Bosnich needed more time

Bosnich not been given a proper chance says Peter

Manchester United goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel believes his former club should have given Mark Bosnich more time to establish himself as the great Dane's successor.

Schmeichel believes United rushed into signing Fabien Barthez for £7.8m, threatening Bosnich's place, when all they needed to do was put their faith in Bosnich.

Bosnich arrived at Old Trafford from Aston Villa following Schmeichel's decision to move to Sporting Lisbon in Portugal after helping Sir Alex Ferguson's men win the Treble in 1999.

However, Bosnich has failed to hold down a regular place in the first team and has found himself competing with Massimo Taibi and Raimond van der Gouw.

Schmeichel was a hard act to follow

Now the arrival of French international Barthez has further clouded his future.

Schmeichel said: "I truly believe if Mark Bosnich had been given the chance to play from the beginning, he would have done well.

"He has the stature and the character and he could have done it. "It is nothing to do with me leaving a void, but I am pretty sure if they had been given peace and quiet to grow into the job, both (Bosnich and Taibi) would have done well.

"But they never got the chance."

Schmeichel, currently in action with Denmark at Euro 2000, does however feel that Barthez could prove a great signing for his old club.

He added: "You have to handle that (the pressure) and Barthez has the character to do that."