Ralf Rangnick has clarified Mike Phelan is 'never on the pitch' during Manchester United's daily training sessions.
United have added former New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC coach Chris Armas to their coaching staff following the departure of Michael Carrick earlier this month, and Armas will assist Rangnick in preparing training sessions along with Kieran McKenna.
Phelan, the assistant manager, has come under mounting pressure to leave after he rejoined United with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer three years ago. The 59-year-old has cut a detached figure in the dugout since Solskjaer was sacked and has not been sitting with the rest of the staff in the dugout.
Rangnick said Phelan, whose training sessions were popular with players when he was assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson, did not observe training sessions under Solskjaer.
"Since Michael Carrick is no longer on board we needed somebody else to replace him, so Chris Armas is one of two assistant coaches now with Kieran," Rangnick explained. "So I have the two of them who help me to prepare training sessions, to discuss video footage together with [analyst] Paul Brand.
"Mike Phelan is not watching the training sessions - he also didn’t do that when Ole was in charge - but he’s also part of the training group of the staff.
"But he is never on the pitch when we train. He’s not out there and he didn’t do that when Ole was in charge, as I said. Chris will not replace Mike but much rather Michael Carrick."
Phelan was recently given a three-year contract by United but his influence was under increasing scrutiny before Solskjaer was sacked.
When Solskjaer was asked to explain Phelan's role on a day-to-day basis in October, he dodged the question.
