Darren Fletcher has underlined the importance of Manchester United managers watching academy players in a passionate tribute to Michael Carrick. The club icon's comments on Carrick made a mockery of former boss Ruben Amorim, who failed to watch a single United youth match during his tenure.
Fletcher's Praise for Carrick
Fletcher insisted that Carrick, who has already watched several youth games since taking over on an interim basis, being at matches means a lot to United youngsters and provides an 'extra incentive' ahead of their FA Youth Cup final against rivals Manchester City on Thursday.
United's Under-18s face City at the Joie Stadium, looking to win the prestigious tournament for the first time since 2022, when Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo helped the Reds to a 3-1 win against Nottingham Forest.
But it is now the current crop of United young stars who have the chance to impress on the biggest stage, and interim first-team head coach Carrick is poised to be in attendance to watch.
'All players love it when the first team manager is there,' United U18s boss Fletcher said pre-match. 'It does give you an extra incentive, there's no doubt about it. It shows that he cares, it shows he's got eyes on it.'
Amorim, Carrick's predecessor, did not attend academy matches, but the current United manager has often attended to support the U18s and Under-21s since his return to the club in mid-January.
'It's easy to say these things, but you have to live it and do it, and that's what Michael's doing,' Fletcher added. 'It definitely shows that this is a club that is thinking about young players and not just speaking about it. It's so powerful and Michael realises that. United has always been about that, and seeing Michael brings it into action.'
Amorim's Shortcomings Highlighted
Whilst not directly talking about Amorim, Fletcher's praise of Carrick and comments on the significance of his actions help to highlight another one of the Portuguese's shortcomings at Old Trafford. It is not the first time that Amorim, who had also been hugely critical of United's academy by claiming there was a culture of 'entitlement' at the club, has been left somewhat red-faced since his dismissal.
Kobbie Mainoo, a player he had more or less frozen out, has established himself as a standout figure in the United team under Carrick, while the team have gone from strength to strength and sealed Champions League football for next season.
Meanwhile, one academy player who is hoping to impress Carrick and the United first team is JJ Gabriel. Carrick will already be well aware of the teenage sensation, with the forward having trained with the senior set-up in recent months. The 15-year-old picked up the Premier League Under-18 Player of the Season award in London this week, after scoring 26 goals in 26 matches against an older age group.
Fletcher said: 'JJ is an amazing talent, with a major future. His enthusiasm for football, to learn, to play, to be on the ball has been a pleasure to work with.'
'He's a fantastic kid, but we have to remember he's a kid. JJ has scored the goals and goals always get the limelight but he will recognise the amount of help he's had from team-mates.'
'He's desperate to do better, to improve, to learn, he takes constructive criticism fantastically and I've got a great relationship with him,' Fletcher added. 'I'm excited for his future more than anyone but he's a young kid and he keeps developing and he knows that as well. I've enjoyed working with him as much as I have done with everyone else.'
FA Youth Cup Final Preview
United U18s head into the FA Youth Cup final on a remarkable run, winning 17 of their last 20 matches across all competitions. They sit second in the U18 Premier League table, behind Thursday's opponents City.
