Manchester United interim boss Darren Fletcher has described the opportunity to lead the club as beyond his “wildest dreams,” while insisting he has not given any thought to replacing the recently sacked Ruben Amorim on a permanent basis.
The Portuguese manager was dismissed after a turbulent 14 months at Old Trafford, with former United midfielder Fletcher placed in temporary charge. The under-18s coach addressed the media for the first time ahead of his team’s match against Burnley.
“It’s surreal,” Fletcher said. “It’s an amazing honour to be able to lead a Manchester United team. I don’t even think it was in my wildest dreams that it was something that could potentially happen, even when thinking about playing for the club.”
He added that while the circumstances of his appointment were unexpected, his focus is firmly on the responsibility ahead. “It’s not happened in the way I expected, and that doesn’t sit quite easy with me, but I’ve got a job to do. I’ve got to lead the team and take great pride in doing that.”
Fletcher is expected to remain in charge until the club appoints a caretaker manager, with plans to name Amorim’s permanent successor at the end of the season. Reports have suggested that the club has held preliminary discussions with Fletcher, Michael Carrick and former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer regarding the caretaker role.
However, Fletcher said discussions with the club’s hierarchy had been centred solely on the upcoming match. “Honestly, it’s not something I’ve thought about,” he said when asked about taking the job full-time. “Everything has happened so quickly. All my focus, effort and thoughts are on Burnley.”
The former Scotland international won five Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson, though United have not lifted the league trophy since 2013. Fletcher acknowledged the expectations that come with the role.
“Everyone expects Manchester United to be at the top and winning. That’s the standard we all have to try and achieve,” he said.
When asked what his team would look like, Fletcher said he hoped it would reflect the club’s identity. “I want a Manchester United team that fans can be proud of, that I can be proud of. I believe in the players. We’ve got quality, we’ve got players who care, and I want to give them a platform to express themselves.”
Fletcher said he was hopeful captain Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount could return to a squad hit by injuries and international commitments. He declined to reveal whether his twin sons, Jack and Tyler, would be handed full debuts against Burnley.
Manchester United currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
