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Man Utd news: Rui Faria decision is a 'gamble' for Jose Mourinho
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Jose Mourinho is taking a risk not replacing Rui Faria, according to former Old Trafford No 2 Mike Phelan.
Rui Faria will be leaving Manchester United this summer
The Portuguese assistant announced he will be leaving the Premier League runners-up at the end of the season, ending his 17-year partnership with Mourinho.
The duo have worked together since their days at Porto.
But Mourinho has revealed he will not be seeking a like-for-like replacement for Faria next season.
And Sir Alex Ferguson's former United assistant Phelan believes the Portuguese boss is taking a big gamble.
"Everybody who is involved at Manchester United will know the pressures that come their way," he told Sky Sports.
Rui Faria has been with Jose Mourinho for 17 years
He will need somebody to run things by now and again
"He will need somebody to run things by now and again.
"He talked about Michael Carrick, he will probably sit in between roles and learn his trade a little bit.
"It's a gamble for him - he's saying he hasn't got anybody in that group already to replace Faria, whether he goes looking outside who knows?
"But it is a difficult role, you need somebody to talk to because you can't bounce things off people if they're not there."
Mike Phelan was Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United
Speaking after Faria's departure, Mourinho revealed how he would set his coaches up next season, with Michael Carrick set to feature prominently.
"I will organise my coaching staff in a way where the assistant manager figure doesn't exist," he said.
"I'm going to have assistant coaches, I'm going to have fitness coaches, and a structure where they have specialists in different areas connected to the performance.
“I’m not going to have an assistant managing in the sense of the word."
United ended their season with a 1-0 win over Watford on Sunday afternoon.