In a revealing press conference on Tuesday, newly appointed Manchester United interim manager Darren Fletcher disclosed he consulted legendary former boss Sir Alex Ferguson before accepting the caretaker position. The former United midfielder steps into the role following the abrupt dismissal of Ruben Amorim on Monday, after the Portuguese manager’s turbulent 14-month tenure culminated in public criticism of the club’s hierarchy.
Fletcher, who moves up from his position as under-18s coach to lead the team against Burnley on Wednesday, emphasized the significance of seeking Ferguson’s guidance. ‘I’ve spoken with Sir Alex,’ Fletcher told reporters. ‘I don’t make major decisions without consulting him—this has been my practice throughout my career at and beyond Manchester United. He was actually among the first to call, and obtaining his blessing was paramount given the respect he deserves.’
The interim manager described how Ferguson reinforced his own philosophy: ‘He echoed my longstanding belief that as a club employee, your fundamental duty is to always act in Manchester United’s best interests. Hearing him affirm this principle that guides my daily approach was profoundly comforting.’
Fletcher becomes the sixth caretaker manager since Ferguson’s celebrated retirement in 2013, which marked the end of United’s most recent Premier League title victory and the beginning of prolonged institutional instability. The club has yet to communicate with Amorim since his departure, while speculation mounts about Fletcher’s potential successors until season’s end, with former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ex-Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick reportedly under consideration.
Addressing the intense scrutiny from club legends like Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Paul Scholes—which often appeared to unsettle Amorim—Fletcher asserted that embracing such criticism comes with leading ‘the biggest club in the world.’ He noted: ‘You cannot ask these passionate individuals to temper their opinions. They have earned the right to voice their perspectives, and their insights are valuable.’