Ruben Amorim regularly raised criticism from former Man Utd greats during his time in charge but Darren Fletcher is ready to embrace it.
Gary Neville has been critical of Manchester United but Darren Fletcher won’t tell him to go easy
Darren Fletcher won’t tell his former teammates now working in the media to go easy on his Manchester United team, despite the criticism being levelled at players and the club being raised under Ruben Amorim. In his press conference broadside at club officials on Sunday, Amorim suggested that even executives were influenced by criticism from the likes of Gary Neville.
The club’s former right-back is one of a cohort of United greats who have waded in on the club in their media roles, with Roy Keane and Paul Scholes also heavily critical. Those attacks have damaged the confidence of some players and caused divisions between the dressing room and some United greats, but Fletcher believes those now wearing the shirt should embrace the challenge that comes with the pressure of being at the club.
“You can’t ask them to go easier because they’re passionate guys and I think they’re right to their opinion and they’re really good,” Fletcher said of the critical pundits he played with. “They’re engaging, they’re good to listen to. I enjoy listening to them, you know. I had years of listening to them in the dressing room and I used to sit and listen to them and take it all in.
“Outside noise, ex-players, it’s difficult to deal with, it’s not easy because those players have won everything. They’ve got success behind them, they’ve got trophies, so it’s hard to criticise them back because they’ve got their medals on the table, so it’s really, really difficult.
“But again, that’s what it is being a Manchester United player. Get your head around it, learn how you’re going to deal with it, and embrace the challenge.”
Although the withering attacks on a string of disappointing performances and underwhelming seasons have been seen internally as damaging, Fletcher turned the equation on its head and said players should be grateful for the support they receive inside Old Trafford.
Supporters have rarely turned on the team despite their struggles, with Fletcher pointing out that wouldn’t be the case everywhere given the struggles United have endured in recent years, with finishes of sixth, eighth and 15th in three of the previous four seasons.
“People want to win football games, people want to be entertained, people have a standard of what Manchester United is and what Manchester United expects,” said Fletcher.
“I think the fans, especially in Old Trafford, have been amazing in recent years, if I’m perfectly honest with you. I think there’s been a few moments here and there, but in general the support that the fans have given players, managers, understanding of the situation, I think it could have been a lot worse inside the stadium.
“I’ve probably experienced other stadiums where there has been a lot more pressure and hostile, so maybe the players have to deal with that noise more than actual stadium sort of pressure.
“So that should help and I think the fans have been amazing in that and I’m going to sit here today and ask them to support the players. Not me, support the players in the club, because they need it and they need that help.”