Manchester United's former assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has delivered a surprising verdict on the club's current state, insisting there is not a huge amount to 'fix' following the dismissal of head coach Ruben Amorim.
Amorim's Departure and Fletcher's Interim Role
The Red Devils parted ways with Amorim on Monday, 5th January 2026, just hours after a 1-1 Premier League draw with bitter rivals Leeds United. His tenure lasted a total of 14 months. The club moved swiftly to appoint former midfielder Darren Fletcher as caretaker manager. Fletcher, who won multiple Premier League titles with United, took charge for the first time in Wednesday's 2-2 top-flight draw against Burnley.
In his first press conference, Fletcher described the appointment as a 'surreal' and 'amazing honour', though admitted the circumstances were not ideal. 'It all happened very quickly on Monday,' he stated, focusing on preparing the team for their immediate fixtures.
Meulensteen's 'Quick Fix' Assessment
Rene Meulensteen, who served as Sir Alex Ferguson's right-hand man during the club's most successful era, has now weighed in on the situation. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he suggested the path to improvement could be shorter than many anticipate.
'I don't think now that it needs much to fix it... I really don't think it does,' Meulensteen asserted. 'You just need to put the players in the system that the players can play to their strengths and this could happen very, very, very quickly.'
He highlighted the advantages of having Fletcher in temporary command, pointing to his deep knowledge of the club from both its triumphant and recent more challenging periods.
Search for a Permanent Successor
While Fletcher prepares the squad for this weekend's FA Cup third-round tie against Brighton, the club's hierarchy is reportedly already considering longer-term options. Discussions are said to be planned with former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick about taking the interim reins until the season's end.
On the pitch, the draw with Burnley leaves Manchester United in seventh place in the Premier League table, having been overtaken by both Newcastle United and Brentford. The search for a permanent new manager and a return to consistent form represents the immediate dual challenge for the Old Trafford club, even if a trusted voice from its past believes the remedy may be closer at hand than expected.
