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Manchester United are in the dawn of a new era with INEOS taking control of the sporting structure at Old Trafford and the new minority owners are already making their presence felt.
Erik ten Hag has been replaced by an exciting young coach in Ruben Amorim with Ruud van Nistelrooy taking charge in the interim period.
However, this came after the new board granted Ten Hag a one-year extension to his contract in the summer, even after registering United’s lowest ever Premier League finish.
Former coach Mike Phelan, who has seen his role chopped in recent years, albeit before INEOS’ arrival, has spoken out on the process which eventually led to the club making a change in the dug-out.
Speaking to Laurie Whitwell from The Athletic, Phelan believes INOES have fumbled their first major decision with regards to sacking Ten Hag and the drawn-out public saga that saw him be granted a stay of execution in the summer.
“The decision-making has probably left a lot to be desired. It’s a strange one that they go so far, look for new managers, then win the FA Cup (last season), back him to the hilt, bring in new staff, spend a lot on players, then change their minds. It’s quite confusing,” he said.
The 62-year-old continued to question the route INEOS are going down with regard to staff cuts at the club and wonders whether the right people are being left in situ.
“It’s a completely changed environment (at United) now. They’ve got rid of a lot of people — some good people.
It needs streamlining in the right areas but has it still got that unity it had when it was successful? There is more exposure now to open up those cracks,” he added.
Phelan admitted the “the proof of the pudding will come further down the line”, but with “a lot going on”, he clearly feels INEOS have a lot of work to do.
With Amorim taking charge of first fixture after the international break, United need to navigate two further home games before the new head coach officially starts his reign as the sixth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Van Nisterlooy’s side face POAK in the Europa League on Thursday night before the visit of Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
