Darren Fletcher is ready to continue as Manchester United’s interim head coach until the end of the season if the club ask him.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are the leading contenders for the role following Ruben Amorim’s sacking on Monday.
Solskjaer held face-to-face talks with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox at Carrington on Saturday, two days after Carrick met with the Old Trafford hierarchy.
But Fletcher has impressed during his week as caretaker boss and could emerge as a candidate, particularly if he can engineer a FA Cup third-round win over Brighton at Old Trafford on Sunday.
United’s Under-18s coach has been at pains to stress that he has been focused on his two games in charge this week, but says he is ready to seize the opportunity if it comes his way.
‘I’ve always tried to prepare myself to be a manager in the future,’ said the 41-year-old Scot. ‘It was something I always thought I’d maybe be quite good at or something I’d enjoy the challenge of doing.
‘That opportunity might come for me one day and I know I’ll be ready to do it. But if it doesn’t, I’ll be more than comfortable with that. If it means staying as the Under-18s coach, I’m really happy. I enjoy doing that and I’m going to help develop players for Manchester United.
‘I was surprised I got offered the two games because I wasn’t expecting it. I don’t think like that. I think about the job that I’ve got in hand, I really do and so it wasn’t something that was on my radar at all.
Darren Fletcher on the touchline in his first game as United boss, a 2-2 draw at Burnley
Benjamin Sesko hit a double but United missed out on the chance of going into the top five
‘But when I do get asked to do it, I know I can do it. I know that I’m comfortable doing it. I know the environment, I believe in myself.
‘I’ve had great experiences as a player. I’ve taken my time to develop and learn as a coach and other parts of things off the field, which I’m glad I’ve done because I think it’s put me in a great position now – or a better position now than it would have been five years ago.
‘I’ve had five years of learning under good coaches and good people. As I said, I feel like I’ve developed a rounded approach to the game and football and comfortable in a lot of different situations, academy, technical or obviously coaching and leading.
‘I’ve always been quite relaxed about my future. I’ve enjoyed it, I really have. I’ve enjoyed the challenge of it and it’s amazing. I’ve tried to relish it. I’ve tried to go with my instincts as I said, I think I’m quite well prepared.
‘But at the same time, it’s not something I’m saying I’m desperate to do. I think circumstances in life dictate that, where you’re at yourself personally; health, family, lots of different factors dictate that.
‘I’ve got two young boys at the start of their football career. I’ve got another set of young twin girls which takes up a lot of my time so. So those things are on my mind. I’ve experienced how intense it has been a manager for less than a week.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had talks over returning to the manager’s role on Saturday
Fletcher was reminded that before United installed Solskjaer as interim boss after sacking Jose Mourinho in 2018 he told the BBC that ‘Manchester United should never be in this position’.
He added at the time: ‘They’re almost writing off this season and next season because if they appoint a new manager in the summer he’s not going to have much time to look for new players.’
Fletcher smiled when it was brought up at his pre-match press conference: ‘Good research that!’ he said. ‘I was young and naive when I said that, wasn’t I?
‘That was my feeling at the time, and I was speaking in context of probably being out of the game and not involved in it from the inside.
‘I think the most important thing for me is it’s not my decision, and ultimately, the club need to do what they think’s best, the people in the higher-up roles in the club.
‘They need to do what they think is best. They need to know what their plan is going forward for the success of Manchester United. And I’m sure they’ll be strong to do that!’
