Bastian Schweinsteiger Talks Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is expecting a "special season" at Old Trafford in 2016-17 if Jose Mourinho is appointed as Louis van Gaal's successor in the manager's role.

The 2014 World Cup winner believes it will be particularly interesting when the Manchester derby comes around next term, with Mourinho set to be facing new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. 

The pair enjoyed a fiery relationship when they both managed in Spain, and per Jamie Anderson of the Daily Star, Schweinsteiger said:

"

We don't know who will be our new manager yet, but it looks like it's going to be an interesting derby in Manchester next season.

The enthusiasm for football in Manchester is great and if Mourinho does take over at United, I think all of the players want to train under him so it's going to be quite a special season.

"

The Germany international also hailed the departed Van Gaal—under whom he played at Bayern Munich and United—saying he had no "bad words" to say about the Dutchman despite a "difficult" debut season as a Red Devils player, per Anderson.  

He joined the Manchester outfit from Bayern last summer for €9 million (£6.5 million), but the 31-year-old has not played since March after picking up a knee injury.

He missed out on the club's FA Cup triumph as they beat Crystal Palace in the final on Saturday—which proved to be Van Gaal's last game in charge before he was sacked—but Schweinsteiger said he was happy for the manager to bow out on a high, per Anderson:

"

I think [Van Gaal] and I have a very special relationship—he moved me into the centre of the midfield at Bayern and I've got a lot to thank him for.

Also, my move to United was because of him. I will never say any bad words about somebody for whom I have so much to thank.

Quite the opposite—even if we were not always of the same opinion, we had a good relationship. I admire him as a coach and despite a difficult season with really much injury misfortune, he still ended it with a good title.

It's been two years since United last won a title and I think that was a good ending also for him.

"

It is likely to be all change for next term if Mourinho is in charge, and an announcement of his appointment is expected imminently, per BBC Sport.

The Sun's Neil Custis said Schweinsteiger could "be [one of] the first casualties of the new regime."

However, given the Portuguese manager's historic reliance on experience over youth—which has been highlighted by many as a reason he should not be appointed United boss, per the Mirror's John Cross—he may want to keep the German in his squad:

Schweinsteiger has proved himself at the highest level in club and international football having won the 2014 World Cup, the 2013 UEFA Champions League and eight Bundesliga titles.

Though his fitness issues are a cause for concern, it would be unsurprising if Mourinho kept him at United and played him in the bigger games when experience is at a premium.

Two of the bigger games the Red Devils will face next season in the Premier League will be home and away against local rivals City.

MICHAL CIZEK/Getty Images

When Guardiola was at Barcelona and Mourinho at Real Madrid, things got heated when the two sides met, and many are predicting more fireworks in the likely event that the pair meet again in Manchester, per Marina Hyde in the Guardian.

As Schweinsteiger said, it is likely to be a "special season" at United if Mourinho is appointed.

Just how the self-appointed Special One will fare at Old Trafford is impossible to know, but he is never not entertaining, and United fans will hope he at least returns them to the level of title challengers once again.