Harry Diamond
Mike Phelan has discussed Manchester United’s disappointing start to the new campaign but insists the club can ‘build something’ under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United are currently enduring their worst start to a season in 30 years after winning just twice in their opening nine Premier League fixtures, Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Old Trafford leaving the club just two points outside the division’s bottom three.
The club’s form is in stark contrast to the run they enjoyed following the arrival of Solskjaer and assistant Phelan last December, the duo guiding the club to 10 wins in 11 matches and a record breaking Champions League comeback win against Paris Saint-Germain.
Phelan admitted the club’s struggles are difficult at present, but says it was inevitable results would dip following their initial success.
“We’d taken them from nothing to sky high, but they bottomed out because it was just too much, they weren’t prepared for it,” Phelan told The Athletic . “So we had a lot of things to work on.”
The United assistant urged for patience as Solskjaer builds a winning side at Old Trafford, suggesting it may take several transfer windows before the success of their rebuild is evident.
“Ole relates well with the players, he understands what Man United is,” Phelan says.
“It is definitely a difficult moment, but Ole hasn’t got his team yet. He’s had three players (signed), you need more than three to be the manager of your own team.
“We can build on something, I think. Ole just needs that opportunity to create the culture again.”
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