'I was a Man Utd coach under Ralf Rangnick and something he did weirded me out'

Mike Phelan, who stayed at Manchester United as part of Ralf Rangnick's staff after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 2021 sacking, admits it "never felt right." United appointed Rangnick as caretaker manager until the end of the 2021/22 season, an agreement that included a two-year consultancy role from the summer of 2022.

However, the German failed to improve the club's fortunes across a whirlwind several months, winning just 11 of his 29 matches in charge.

Rangnick also oversaw nine defeats while his side conceded more goals (45) than it scored (44), resulting in United's worst-ever Premier League points tally (58).

The Red Devils' former hierarchy frustrated Rangnick by denying him his first-choice coaching staff due to the temporary nature of his role.

Supporters were later left stunned when it emerged that Rangnick received in-game analysis from confidant Lars Kornetka, who watched from abroad while he worked at Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow.

After the 66-year-old accepted the Austria job alongside his United role near the end of the season, Solskjaer's permanent successor, Erik ten Hag, cut ties when he arrived at Old Trafford.

During a recent Q&A at the Holiday Inn in Manchester, Phelan shared his bemusement at United hiring an interim manager in November 2021.

"It never felt right. There is nothing interim about being Man United manager — you are the man. It was another change in that world of madness at times," he explained to The Athletic.

Phelan, Sir Alex Ferguson's former assistant, also claimed he found Rangnick's communication with Kornetka during matches bizarre.

He added: "It's difficult to understand when the game is going on, and you're there, but the input is coming from somebody on the end of a phone in another part of the world.

"It was weird. I just thought, 'Why? The game is there, watch it.' I don't need somebody in wherever to tell me his thoughts when he isn't even relevant to the club right now.

"It worked for Ralf. I respect that. It just wasn't in my understanding of the game. But maybe it's how the game is going.

"I'm still getting my head around 30 staff with laptops every game – analysing what?

"You've got 10 minutes to go in a match, you're losing, then you're having a discussion for five minutes and the moment's gone. I used to think, 'Guys, the game's nearly finished'."

Rangnick has proven his critics wrong at the Austria helm, winning 17 of his 30 matches and being one of the surprise packages at Euro 2024.

But Phelan isn't alone in reflecting on his tenure as United's caretaker manager with little positivity.