Manchester United interim manager Darren Fletcher has said the chance to take charge of the club is beyond his “wildest dreams,” while stressing that he has not considered the possibility of succeeding the recently dismissed Ruben Amorim on a permanent basis.
Amorim was sacked following a difficult 14-month spell at Old Trafford, with former United midfielder Fletcher appointed as caretaker. The under-18s coach made his first media appearance ahead of United’s upcoming 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.