Mike Phelan, a former Manchester United player and coach, believes Michael Carrick has the personality to handle the first real crisis of his tenure as head coach, but warns the team has lost its grounding. Phelan, who worked with Carrick during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign, told the Manchester Evening News that Carrick is "steely" and knows what pressure looks like, but the question is whether he and his staff can produce the right mentality in the building.
Carrick's Coaching Qualities
Phelan praised Carrick's studious approach and his ability to plan sessions, noting that he and Kieran McKenna embraced modern coaching methods and technology. "Michael was always a thinker; you could see that in his playing style," Phelan said. He added that Carrick had a playing background that helped him understand how deep to go with coaching intensity.
Concerns Over Playing Style
Phelan expressed concern about the pace of play, saying, "I still personally think they play slowly." He observed a predictability in the slow build-up, followed by a blast of pace, which he believes frustrates many people. Even in a 4-0 win over Sabah in the Champions League, he was concerned about how open the team looked.
Solskjaer Era Regret
Phelan reflected on the end of Solskjaer's tenure, saying he felt progress was being made and that the trigger was pulled "a little bit too sharply." He cited the Europa League final defeat to Villarreal on penalties as a missed opportunity. He also discussed Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival, which he said created a "euphoric" buzz but required adaptation from both the player and the team.
Phelan was critical of the decision to appoint Ralf Rangnick as caretaker manager, saying it didn't seem to have "any rhyme or reason." He has since worked with Wayne Rooney at Plymouth and now runs his own coaching business, Mike Phelan Coach, and is co-founder of workplace wellbeing start-up PEAK4. He also highlighted the signing of Bruno Fernandes as a major positive, describing him as "a standard-bearer" and "the most consistent player at Man United right now."
