Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant believes the club "missed a trick" in not hiring Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola.
Manchester United saw the Scot retire in 2013 and were faced with the unenviable task of trying to replace him.
Several major names were out there but they opted to hire David Moyes from Everton - a move that would last less than a year.
Rene Meulensteen served as Ferguson's No.2 and wanted the Red Devils to go and make moves for Guardiola or Klopp.
The Catalan had begun working with Bayern Munich, but prior to that had spent a year out of the game.
Klopp meanwhile had just led Borussia Dortmund to the Champions League final with his stock firmly on the rise.
Both managers have since enjoyed huge success in England and their clear blueprints are seen as a major plus.
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"Manchester United missed a trick not getting one of them," Meulensteen told The Sun. "They both have such a presence and influence at their clubs.
"If you ask a Liverpool player, 'Do you know what you are doing?', they will all say 'Yes'.
"You ask City players, no matter how Pep might change things around, 'Do you know what you are doing?', they will all say 'Yes'.
"Ask United players and I don’t think you get such an assured answer. Mind you, if either club does not prepare properly for when they leave, they’ll end up in the same position."
Ralf Rangnick is now the interim boss following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking.
The German could yet stay beyond the summer but the likes of Mauricio Pochettino are being considered for the role.
The Argentine is among several modern-day coaches who employ a pressing game, which is seen as a must.
Solskjaer didn't use such a tactic prior to his sacking but Meulensteen doesn't think it is anything new, insisting Ferguson did so when necessary.
He added: “You know what, it has become a very popular word. Like it was never being done before.
“We would do it, but not for the sake of it. Not when the team was facing forward or coming to you.
“It was when they turned and faced to their own goal, that was when you pressed and forced the mistakes."
“You know where it all comes from? Your own back four. They need to study the opposition back four, see if they are moving forward or going back and react and move to the spaces they leave in behind or in front.
“People think you need to have players full of energy, running non-stop, to make this work."
