11 June 2024 , 17:43
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Former Manchester United assistant Mike Phelan has concurred with Cristiano Ronaldo's previous criticisms of the Carrington training centre, acknowledging that there are indeed "issues" at the facility.
Phelan was quizzed about his thoughts on United's training ground during an appearance on the Ben Heath podcast. This came off the back of Ronaldo's controversial critique of the complex during his 2022 interview with Piers Morgan. Ex-United coach Phelan candidly discussed the current state of Carrington, conceding that it requires some "brightening up".
"There are issues," Phelan confessed. "We all have houses and if we don't paint them regularly enough or we don't do the pointing on the walls then it starts to corrode a little bit so I think there was an element of that. When I came back everything was there, it was just a case of brightening it up and sprucing it up."
Ronaldo, who had two stints at United, first from 2003 to 2009 and then returning in 2021, expressed his disappointment with the club's lack of progress since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. In an honest chat with Piers Morgan in November 2022, shortly before his contract was terminated, he said: "I don't know what's going on but since Sir Alex Ferguson left I saw no evolution in the club, the progress was zero. Nothing changed. Surprisingly.
"Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym... Even some points, the technology, the kitchen, the chefs, which is, I appreciate, lovely persons. They stopped in a time, which surprised me a lot." Phelan, acknowledging Ronaldo's comments, suggested that the high standards set by players' personal facilities could be influencing their expectations of the club's training grounds.
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"I think Cristiano realised as well, and you have to understand that all these players in the Premier League, they have these facilities at home, it's amazing really," Phelan remarked. "They have chefs and they have kitchens that cost more than my house.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Mike Phelan worked together at Old Trafford and Carrington"They have saunas, gyms, pools, they have gardens that stretch for three or four acres and they have football pitches in them now. You see all the time on TV, it's amazing, and rightly so if they can afford to do that, so their standard of living is huge and they expect that when they come to work and you have to provide that and get better at that."
The ex-Hull City boss confessed that the Red Devils need to keep pace with their rivals when it comes to standards. "I'm not saying it's got to be bigger, bigger and bigger because sometimes small is beautiful you know," Phelan added. "But there are expectations now within Premier League football clubs as to what level and standard you have to meet.
"Man United had it all there. Yes they had a few portacabins in the carpark and things like that, but tell me a place that doesn't when you need to grow and grow quickly so it's easier to get a portacabin in the carpark than wait to build something."
Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United's training complex (GETTY)Phelan, who departed Old Trafford soon after Erik ten Hag's arrival, admitted that improvements to the club's facilities could be crucial in attracting top players. He continued: "Ultimately you need to maintain high standards in order to attract and make those small improvements and each small improvement becomes a bigger thing in the grand scheme of things doesn't it."
While United did give Carrington a facelift in the summer – with the swimming pool, ice baths, steam rooms, and jacuzzis all modernised – Sir Dave Brailsford believes a complete relocation is required. Ineos sporting director Brailsford, who joined the board following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority takeover in February, is said to believe that Carrington is not up to scratch. It was also reported earlier this year that United were considering relocating to a new training base.
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