MANCHESTER UNITED have handed assistant boss Mike Phelan a new contract amid speculation over manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future.
Phelan spent five years as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson but left in 2013 when the Scot ended his 23-year spell at the club.
Solskjaer then brought Phelan back to Old Trafford in 2019, not long after the Norwegian was handed his first long-term deal as head coach.
And now The Mail are reporting that Phelan, whose existing contract was up next year, has been handed a new deal which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2024.
That matches the time frame of the contract Solskjaer penned earlier this year.
The United boss has come under fire in recent weeks for his team’s performances and results.
The Red Devils have failed to win four of their last seven matches, including defeats in the Champions League, League Cup and Premier League.
But speaking after their most recent slip-up – a 2-2 draw at home to Everton – Solskjaer insisted he is up to the challenge.
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He said: “I’m very confident we will get the best out of this squad.
“We’ve had Raphael and Jadon with us for only August and Cristiano only for September.
“We’ve got loads of work, I know that. But I do believe in this group and the coaching staff that I’ve got.”
United sit fourth in the Premier League table heading into the second international break of the season.
They are two points adrift of table toppers Chelsea with all teams having played eight games.
Next up for Solskjaer’s side when domestic football returns is a trip to Leicester on October 16.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
