Mike Phelan signed a new contract at Manchester United in October. That decision from the board was intended to be a public show of support for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer but they were backing the wrong horse. Solskjaer's race finished just a few weeks later.
It was negligence for Phelan to be handed a new deal when Solskajer's position was under such immense pressure. Phelan had also come under pressure, with the club not providing comment on what his role actually was. Solskjaer was asked just that in a press conference and he avoided the question. Solskjaer was a master of speaking without actually saying anything.
Solskjaer avoiding the question only increased the pressure on Phelan. He wasn't coaching at Carrington but he was on the touchline at Old Trafford. It seemed like Phelan was exaggerating his involvement to justify his existence at United on matchdays.
