Solskjaer keeps Carrick, McKenna and Dempsey on as backroom staff after Phelan signs three-year deal to stay as assistant

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has decided to keep his backroom team in place as he bids to revive the fortunes of Manchester United.

Solskjaer endured a difficult end to the season at Old Trafford which meant United finished sixth and out of the Champions League next year.

But the Norwegian has confirmed he believes he has the coaching team in place to improve performances of his side, having already appointed Mike Phelan as his assistant on a three-year deal.

Michael Carrick, Kieran McKenna and Mark Dempsey have now all been told they will remain in position as Solskjaer completes assembling the team to work around him.

The United boss said: "They are all going to stay. That’s important that we keep that team going forward. They are some exceptional coaches.

"Kieran, with his 32 years of age, you’d think he has 32 years of coaching.

"Demps I have worked with since 2011 in Norway. he is a United lad through and through, and came through with Norman Whiteside and Mark Hughes. He knows what this means.

"Michael, what can I say that no one else knows about Michael? He came in for one season at the end of my career, he’s a personality I can really connect with."

QUALITIES

Solskjaer is convinced the management group have the ability, experience and work ethic to bring success back to Old Trafford.

He added: "Seven-thirty in the morning, when I drive in, I think ‘I’ll be early’ .

"I look up there in the glass window, Michael is sitting there, Kieran sitting there, Demps is sitting there.

"Mick has a little further to drive but about half-eight we are all sitting there discussing.

"We have different qualities, we bounce off each other but I am so happy to have this team around me.

"The experience of Mick, he’s been here with the gaffer. He’s been a player, Michael has been a player with some fantastic managers in Jose, David Moyes, Van Gaal, Sir Alex.

"For us to work together, we all learn from each other.

"When Ed rang me in December, you are quickly thinking ‘what do I need for help?’ Mick Phelan was the first port of call.

"He was my first choice. He is such a knowledgeable lad, likeable, to have played under him and now to be working with him in this team is so important to me.

"I said to Ed ‘you need to make sure after he gave me the job full-time that he needed to make sure Mick was with us’."

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