Darren Fletcher’s performance in his new role has begun to spark a new excitement for Manchester United fans.
Since retiring from professional football in 2019, Darren Fletcher returned to Manchester United in a coaching capacity, with an eye on becoming a manager in the years to come.
After spending the first half of the 2020/21 season as a youth team coach, Fletcher was promoted to the senior side in January before becoming the Technical Director in March of the same year. While that role was traditionally away from the pitch, Fletcher continued to assist training under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Erik ten Hag.
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased a minority stake in United, Fletcher was removed from his Technical Director position for Jason Wilcox, who has since been promoted to Director of Football, replacing Dan Ashworth.
Fletcher continued to play a role behind the scenes, but he has now been rewarded with a role back in the coaching setup as Head Coach of the under-18s team, replacing Adam Lawrence, who left the club at the end of last season.
United’s under-18s have some of the club’s best talents in their ranks, including Wayne Rooney’s eldest son Kai, and Fletcher has them on brilliant form.
U18S dominate Liverpool in 7-0 win
In 2023/24, under the guidance of Lawrence, United’s under-18s won both the Premier League North and the final against the winners of the Premier League South, while they also defeated Manchester City in the Premier League Cup.
This season, United haven’t been as dominant – with many of that squad now out on loan or in the under-21s setup, including Fletcher’s twin sons Jack and Tyler – but they have continued to show their brilliant best on occasion.
On Saturday morning, the under-18s made the short trip to Liverpool’s training complex to face their under-18s side and came out 7-0 winners, with a hat-trick from 15-year-old superstar JJ Gabriel.
Bendito Mantato, who has come close to Rúben Amorim’s first team squad this season, opened the scoring before Gabriel stole the show. The other goals came from Louie Bradbury, on his return from injury, Jim Thwaites and Samuel Lusale.
United’s under-18s play Newcastle United next weekend before their first FA Youth Cup game of the season. Fletcher’s side will face Peterborough United at Old Trafford on Tuesday, 9 December.
Amorim must look to youth
Despite his exceptional record from his time at Sporting CP, Amorim has failed to utilise United’s promising talent since becoming manager in November 2024. Even Kobbie Mainoo, who was already a first-team regular, has struggled for regular minutes under the Portuguese boss.
However, that trend does seem to be changing. Shea Lacey was named on the bench against Everton on Monday evening, but wasn’t brought off the bench with United trailing 1-0 against 10 men.
While Lacey could’ve changed the game, it is easy to understand that Amorim won’t have wanted to put that much pressure on the 18-year-old in his first appearance, especially when he is considered to be one of the best talents at the club.
Perhaps, Lacey could make his debut against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon. If he doesn’t feature, he will more than likely make his debut during the African Cup of Nations, when Amorim will be without Amad, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui.
The AFCON could also represent more opportunities for Gabriele Biancheri, Mantato and Chido Obi. Amorim must look to use more of the talented crop of young players at Old Trafford, or he will face more pressure from the United fans.
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