Wednesday 25 October 2017 13:49, UK
Jose Mourinho will continue to deliver silverware at Manchester United despite criticism of his defensive strategy in big games, according to Mike Phelan.
The Portuguese manager celebrated his 400th game in English football with a comfortable 2-0 victory on the road against Swansea in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, but was the subject of a backlash after his side laboured to a goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield, earlier this month.
Mourinho, whose side next face Tottenham on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Premier League, won the League Cup and the Europa League, which secured Champions League football for the first time since the 2013/14 campaign, in his first season in charge at Old Trafford and the former United assistant coach believes Mourinho's game management can't be questioned.
Phelan told Premier League Daily: "Over a 90-plus minute game things change all the time. A game plan is a game plan; it's the flexibility from then on which counts.
"He has got a record and his record is winning things and you don't win things on one game early in the season. It takes a period of time and a process.
"If that way of things works at the end of the season then that is your judgement and he has certainly got the experience and tactical nous to be able to produce winning teams and he is going to do that with Manchester United."
Phelan was impressed by United's reaction to their surprise defeat to Huddersfield in the Premier League on Saturday and singled out the individual performances of Jesse Lingard, who scored both the goals in the Carabao Cup win at Swansea, and Marcus Rashford.
"Everyone is entitled to lose a game of football and that happened at the weekend," Phelan added.
"What he has wanted is a reaction from his group of players and he has certainly got that. We saw a great goal from the combination of two good young players."
He added: "Lingard is not a young player any more. He has been out there and loaned out to many clubs so has got experience but he has also got a great finish in him and good understanding with the other young players in the team."
