Darren Fletcher will remain in the dugout as Manchester United’s interim coach for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie with Brighton at Old Trafford, yet the 2-2 draw at Burnley underlined a stark truth: swapping the man on the touchline will not magically fix the club’s deeper problems.
Fletcher Steps Up
“They have informed me they would like me to take the team on Sunday,” Fletcher said, pledging his full focus to the cup tie after a weekend spent concentrating on Burnley. The decision came from chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, who watched the latest frustrating performance from the directors’ box at Turf Moor, faces drawn against the January chill.
Results Mask Bigger Fault Lines
United’s recent record against the league’s lower-ranked sides is alarming: since November they have faced ten teams from the bottom eight and won just two. Their last three fixtures — against Wolves, Burnley and Leeds — have yielded three draws, a run that exposes a squad slipping from November’s promise into inconsistency and missed opportunity.
Sacking Ruben Amorim after the Elland Road stalemate and ditching his 3-4-3 for a back four has not cured the malaise. United have still managed only two clean sheets all season, and Fletcher admitted bluntly that conceding too easily has been a recurring problem.
Defensive Fragility and Missed Chances
Fletcher pointed to tactical adjustments and collective defending as areas for improvement. The team dominated at Burnley yet conceded late, despite Benjamin Šeško’s brace — the striker’s first double since his £73.7m move. United fired 30 shots with 10 on target, but only two found the net. Twice Burnley cleared goalbound efforts off the line, Šeško squandered chances to complete a hat-trick, and Lisandro Martínez saw a goal chalked off for a push.
“We should win the match,” Fletcher said, reflecting the frustration of a side that creates but too often fails to finish or to shut up shop.
Young Talent Offers Light
Amid the frustration, there were encouraging sparks. Šeško, goalless since October, now has four after clinical finishes from Bruno Fernandes and Patrick Dorgu deliveries. Fletcher revealed he had worked closely with the striker on movement and timing, and the payoff was clear.
Shea Lacey also announced himself in a six-minute cameo. The England Under-20 winger crashed a curling effort off the bar and nearly scored with a late long-range strike. Fletcher’s praise was emphatic: “He is creative, has goals in him, is exciting, direct, fearless. He will be a big part of Manchester United’s future.”
The Road Ahead
Brighton stand between United and a last remaining realistic route to silverware this season. Meanwhile, Berrada and Wilcox are expected to hold talks with potential caretaker candidates, including Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Michael Carrick. Whoever takes charge will inherit a fixture list that offers no mercy: Premier League clashes with Manchester City at Old Trafford and a trip to Arsenal loom large.
Fletcher’s brief is clear: steady the ship, tighten the defence, and turn chances into goals. The FA Cup provides a platform to build momentum, but the club’s deeper structural and tactical issues will demand more than a temporary change at the helm.
