MANCHESTER, England — Darren Fletcher expressed that it’s “an amazing honor” to be appointed to lead Manchester United following the recent dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
Fletcher, who played at Old Trafford from 2002 to 2015, has moved up from managing the under-18s to take charge of the first team for the match against Burnley on Wednesday.
He will be joined on the sidelines by under-21s coach Travis Binnion and assistant Alan Wright.
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Also joining the coaching squad is Jonny Evans, Fletcher’s former teammate who recently retired from professional football.
“It’s surreal; being able to lead a Manchester United team is an incredible honor,” Fletcher said during a press conference on Tuesday. “I never imagined this could happen.”
“It’s truly an honor and something I take great pride in, albeit under circumstances I did not expect. That’s something I’m grappling with, but I have a job to do.”
After the Burnley match, Fletcher might continue to lead the team in the FA Cup tie against Brighton on Sunday.
Manchester United is exploring options for an interim head coach until the end of the season, before making a decision on a permanent successor in the summer.
There’s a possibility that Fletcher, who made 342 appearances and won five Premier League titles, could remain in charge through the summer, although he is focused solely on the upcoming match.
“I’ve spoken with the club’s hierarchy, and our focus is solely on this game,” he stated. “We’ll discuss future arrangements after the match.”
“Honestly, I haven’t given much thought to staying on; my concentration is on Burnley.”
Fletcher is encouraged by the return of Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount, both of whom are now in contention for the game against Burnley.
“Mason and Bruno were eager to play against Leeds, and they’ve trained well, so they will be included in the squad, albeit with some limitations on their minutes,” Fletcher said. “Mason has been in fantastic form, and we all know what Bruno brings as the team’s leader. Having them back is a great boost.”