Manchester United are currently deciding whether to sack Erik ten Hag (Picture: Getty)
Mike Phelan says Erik ten Hag has not done enough to merit another season at Manchester United despite winning the FA Cup.
United’s new owners are currently deciding whether to sack Ten Hag or give the Dutchman more time despite the team recording their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season.
In most years that would surely cost Ten Hag his job but, in his defence, there have been extenuating circumstances, with United enduring an injury crisis throughout the 2023-24 campaign.
The former Ajax boss also boosted his chances of staying at Manchester United by masterminding a shock victory over Manchester City in last weekend’s FA Cup final.
The win ensures United end a difficult season on a high and qualify for Europe at the expense of Newcastle despite the Magpies’ higher finish in the Premier League.
There was speculation Ten Hag would be sacked regardless of the outcome of the FA Cup final but United’s owners are taking their time as they made a final decision over the 54-year-old.
Phelan – who worked as an assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United – expects Ten Hag to go following the ‘very disappointing’ season.
Former Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan (Picture: Getty)
‘Under past regimes I would have said he would have been gone,’ Phelan told talkSPORT. ‘Yes, the ownership is still there but I think this new regime is looking for continuity.
‘I think that’s a different attitude, whether that gives Erik ten Hag the opportunity to go again, I’m not sure.’
Asked if he believes Ten Hag has done enough to be given more time at Manchester United, Phelan added: ‘No, I don’t. That is just the way I see it.
‘We are talking about Manchester United here. It’s a big decision. An important decision.
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‘Ten Hag has been forthright and honest. He obviously sees things internally, he’s got a group of players where he is going to get some out and get some in. He’s confident he is going to take it to another level and that’s great.
‘He won the FA Cup out of the blue, nobody was expecting it, playing in a style he should have thought about a little bit earlier in the season.
‘This season you can’t say anything other than it’s been very disappointing. Not just the performances look at the stats, the stats tell you everything.
‘There are lots of examples of players being unavailable but it’s Manchester United at the end of the day, you get on with it, you set your stall out, and I think he’s come up a bit short.’
United’s owners are considering sacking Ten Hag (Picture: Getty)
Despite his reservations over Ten Hag, Phelan insists it can be ‘easier to get people out than to get people in’ – with United already failing to lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich Town.
The Red Devils, Chelsea and Brighton all expressed interest in poaching the highly-rated coach from the Premier League newcomers but McKenna put pen to paper on a new deal at Ipswich earlier this week.
Discussing McKenna’s potential as a manager, Phelan said: ‘Kieran can be anything he wants to be.
‘He’s got a great work ethic, attention to detail, he’s probably a coach who uses all the technology out there.
‘He works well with a group of people and he can lead. He showed signs of that at Man United. He is very forthright with his ideas.’
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