Darren Fletcher’s interim stint at Man Utd has not seen much progress, and it looks like he has come to the same conclusion about the club that Ruben Amorim once did. While there were a few positives to take from the draw with Burnley, United’s defence struggled badly in their 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
Darren Fletcher’s interim stint at Man Utd has not seen much progress, and it looks like he has come to the same conclusion about the club that Ruben Amorim once did.
While there were a few positives to take from the draw with Burnley, United’s defence struggled badly in their 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
Fletcher saw his team fall behind by two goals before Benjamin Sesko scored a late goal, which was no more than a consolation.
After the match, Fletcher reached a harsh verdict on this United squad, echoing concerns that fans had already heard during Amorim’s tenure.
Darren Fletcher picks up where Ruben Amorim left off
Amorim was known for his honesty during his time at Old Trafford, and while he had his shortcomings, fans generally appreciated his willingness to call things as he saw them.
Sometimes, though, he probably went a bit too far with it. That kind of bluntness does not always help in an environment like Manchester United, where the pressure is already high.
So when Fletcher came in with a more supportive tone and a bit of encouragement, it felt like the right change of pace from Amorim’s constant focus on “suffering”.
But it has not taken long for Fletcher to arrive at the same conclusion about the team that Amorim spoke about regularly.
After the loss to Brighton, the former midfielder said: “I think you can see the players are fragile. You need to dig deep. Build confidence by grinding out results. Of course we want to play good football but you’ve got to find a way to do that. Once you’ve done that hard work, attitude application.”
The recurring theme of mental fragility was something that drove Amorim up the wall too.
The Portuguese coach often mentioned how United lost “in details” more than anything tied to tactics or formation.
This same issue is what Fletcher has pointed out early in his own spell in charge.
What steps should Man Utd take?
This United squad looks stronger on paper than several teams from the past, but there is a clear difference in resilience between then and now.
Teams under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho were known for their comebacks, something that often comes from having strong personalities and natural leaders within the squad.
Today’s group is younger overall, apart from a handful of experienced voices, and many of the new signings have arrived in a dressing room still feeling the effects of last season.
The next manager will need to focus as much on building mental strength as they do on tactics because many of United’s issues stem from a lack of belief and confidence.
Helping players feel more comfortable, taking some pressure off them, and creating an environment where they can perform freely should be at the top of the agenda.
But it will take time. Getting out of this rut will likely require more than just small changes or tweaks – sustained winning form is needed to break free from old patterns.
Category: General Sports
