Interim boss Fletcher sought Ferguson ‘blessing’

Before taking over as manager of Old Trafford, Darren Fletcher claims to have sought the approval of Sir Alex Ferguson, a former Manchester United boss.

Following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, Fletcher will take charge of Wednesday’s Premier League game against Burnley, and he will likely continue playing in the dugout for Brighton’s FA Cup third-round match.

He accepted the position after speaking with 84-year-old Ferguson, who was at Elland Road for Amorim’s final game, a 1-1 draw at Leeds, before giving the explosive press conference that caused his exit.

The 41-year-old said, “I don’t like to make any major decisions without speaking to Sir Alex.”

“I wanted to speak with Sir Alex first and then ask for his approval, to be completely honest with you because we have a really good relationship,” I said. He merits that respect, in my opinion.

Amorim’s obscene assertions about senior Old Trafford officials, particularly former captain Gary Neville, were one of his most troubling observations during his rant at Leeds.

They are still regarded as friends despite the fact that Fletcher shared a dressing room with them.

He thinks the current squad has to deal with this because he was subjected to severe criticism when he joined the United team 20 years ago.

Because they are passionate men, they have a right to their opinion, and they’re really good, he said, “you can’t ask them to go easier]on us.”

They are interesting, they say. They are enjoyable to listen to. I enjoy their voices. I used to sit and take it all in after years of listening to them in the dressing room.

Because those players have won everything, the outside noise is challenging to control.

They have won awards and have success behind them. Because they have their medals on display, it’s difficult to criticize them back.

“But that’s what it’s like to play for Manchester United.” Get your head around it, get a handle on how to handle it, and accept the challenge.

Fletcher claims that he hasn’t had the opportunity to speak with his squad individually since stepping in due to his lack of free time since then.

Instead, he only spoke with the new senior players and captain Bruno Fernandes. After speaking with goalkeeper Senne Lammens last week, Fletcher has scheduled a meeting with Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. Due to his absence from Fletcher’s Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon, United’s other major summer signing, Bryan Mbeumo.

Amorim, who made his son Jack his debut last month and who has had his other twin Tyler sit out United’s previous three games, hasn’t spoken in any way with him.

It’s understandable that I reached out to him but haven’t yet made contact. He obviously has a lot going on, and I’ve been very busy, according to Fletcher.

“I’d love to because Ruben and I had a good relationship, and we were great friends,” he said.

After leaving Celtic at the age of 11 and making more than 300 appearances for Manchester United, Fletcher made more than 300 starts.

One of Ferguson’s most dependable midfielders, he joined the first team in 2003.

Fletcher helped United win five Premier League titles, three Community Shields, the FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League, and Club World Cup.

If the chronic bowel disease ulcerative colitis hadn’t slowed his career, he would have made far more United appearances to his name.

After being diagnosed with the illness in December 2011, the former midfielder only made 12 first-team appearances during the 2011-2012 campaign.

Fletcher claimed that when he first learned about his illness in 2014, he was “very blase” about it, which led to him using the restroom up to 30 times daily and “losing a lot of blood.”

Fletcher continued his Premier League career with West Brom and Stoke City before resigning in 2020 after leaving United in 2015.

He has worked for United in a variety of capacities since then.

In October 2020, he made a first-team coaching debut and then a technical director before returning to the club as the under-16 coach.

He made a permanent run for United’s under-18s last summer when he made a return to the dugout.

However, as Jack and Tyler, Fletcher’s 18-year-old twin sons, Jack and Tyler, make their first professional appearances, the Fletcher name has once more come to be associated with United.

Jack, 18, made his Premier League debut against Aston Villa in December with a score of 2-1.

Tyler, by contrast, plays for United in the first-team and has played in the club’s previous three Premier League games. He also plays for Scotland internationally.

Both players moved to Old Trafford in 2023 after nine years at Manchester City’s academy.