Darren Fletcher urges ‘fragile’ Manchester United players to ‘dig deep’ after FA Cup exit

LONDON – Darren Fletcher admitted Manchester United’s “fragile” players have lost their confidence after their FA Cup exit at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion on Jan 11 left the club in turmoil.

Managerless, out of both domestic cups at the first hurdle for the first time since 1981-82 and sitting a disappointing seventh in the English Premier League, United have rarely been at a lower ebb in their history.

Near silence greeted the final whistle as the 2-1 third-round loss ended United’s realistic hopes of silverware, while some boos rang out as the players trudged off the Old Trafford pitch.

Caretaker boss Fletcher, who stepped up from his role as United’s Under-18 coach after

Ruben Amorim’s dismissal

on Jan 5, experienced the club’s glory days as a midfielder under legendary manager Alex Ferguson.

But after a 2-2 draw away to Burnley in the Premier League, his hopes of providing a boost at Old Trafford were frustrated as former United player Danny Welbeck scored for the visitors after Brajan Gruda put them in front early on. Benjamin Sesko scored United’s late consolation before 18-year-old Shea Lacey was sent off on 90 minutes.

“It was mixed really. We started okay, but the goal knocked the stuffing out of us,” Fletcher said. “Our passing was quite slow, so I challenged them at half-time. It was similar to the game in the week, we needed to move the ball with more tempo.

“When we got back to 2-1, I thought here we go, the crowd was up, the energy was up, but ultimately, we couldn’t get the equaliser. I think you can see the players are fragile and need to build themselves up. It’s up to them to respond.”

United’s first FA Cup third-round defeat since 2014 underscored the litany of problems scarring the club at present.

For now, United’s hierarchy plan to hire an interim boss until the end of the season, buying them time to search for Amorim’s permanent successor.

Former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who failed in his first spell in charge, and Michael Carrick, a decorated ex-United midfielder sacked by second-tier Middlesbrough this season, have been linked with the temporary post.

Multiple reports in the British media have said Carrick is the favourite for the role.

Few have faith that United will hire the right manager after Amorim lasted just 14 turbulent months following the equally chaotic reign of Erik ten Hag,

who was axed in 2024

.

United supporters gave their verdict on the shambolic state of their club by chanting against co-owners Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family throughout the Brighton defeat.

And with tricky games against Manchester City and Premier League leaders Arsenal next for United, the atmosphere could be even more toxic by the time they host Fulham on Feb 1, when the 1958 Group plans a demonstration against the ownership.

United face a 40-game season, their lowest number of matches in a single campaign since before the First World War.

Three points adrift of the Premier League’s top four, with fifth place likely to bring qualification for next season’s Champions League, they can still salvage a modicum of respect by returning to Europe’s elite club competition.

But Fletcher acknowledged the lack of belief in the dressing room at present is a hindrance to United’s hopes of getting back on track.

“You could see the players are fragile, but they’ve got to respond. Confidence is one of the most powerful things in football so when you don’t have it, you have to dig deep and then the confidence comes back,” he said.

“It’s over to them, they need to make sure that they have got a lot to play for this season. This team is still good enough to achieve success this season, but they have to dig deep.”

United defender Diogo Dalot confirmed Fletcher’s feeling that the club’s turmoil has affected the team’s morale, saying: “It’s really difficult.

“It’s always a period that you have to find ways to solve problems really quickly.

“Overall, very disappointed because we wanted to go through. We have to adapt and go again.”

Despite the funereal atmosphere at the final whistle, Fletcher insisted United fans will get behind the players if they show more spirit.

“Out of cups, only Premier League games to play for, the fans weren’t happy at the end but they have got every right to air their grievances. It wasn’t toxic but they showed their disappointment,” he said.

“I’m sure if the payers show the right reaction, the fans will get behind them like they always do because there is still a lot to play for in the Premier League this season.”

United are four games without a win and have tasted victory just once in their last seven games.

Fletcher may not be in charge by the time bitter rivals City visit Old Trafford on Jan 17, but he knows a rough road lies ahead for whoever replaces him.

“They’ve just got to come together. It’s only them in the situation and only them that can do something about it. It might not be pretty at times,” he said. AFP