Darren Fletcher believes there is lots of potential in the Manchester United squad, ahead of Sunday's clash with Brighton in the Emirates FA Cup third round.
Shea Lacey also impressed on Wednesday night, in what was an exciting late cameo featuring two long-range efforts at goal.
Sesko, youth players and Fletcher’s future were among the topics discussed by the latter in the second part of his press conference on Friday afternoon…
“Well, first of all, I think Ben is the one who crosses the white line. He’s done it for himself. I shared that we showed some video, but Ben's been working really, really hard. He's a diligent lad. He trains well. He reviews his games meticulously. So he's been striving for that moment. I'm just fortunate that it came in the game that I was taking charge of, so I’m more than happy for him. There's lots of potential in this squad, and I think potential is a good word, because you can see some young players who are learning their trade and developing at Manchester United, under the biggest microscope, under the most intense pressure. So within that, they'll have to learn quickly, but they'll have to develop a thick skin and deal with the pressures that come with that. But I said it the other day, that's Manchester United, and as quickly as they can learn to deal with that and accept that we have to help them. Experienced players have to help them. Coaches and staff have to help them. Managers have to help them. Everyone in the club has to help them. The biggest thing for me is the fan support, that's there on the pitch, understanding of these things, but I can't question anything. The fans away from home the other night and in the home stadium, I think they've been fantastic with the players. So I think, if you take it in isolation on matchday, I think the players are in a good environment to improve and to learn and to keep developing.”
“Good research that. I was young and naive when I was said that wasn't I. That was my feeling at the time, and speaking in the 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 needs to do what they think's best. The people in the higher-up roles in the club, they need to do what they think's best. They need to know what their plan is going forward for the success of Manchester United. And I'm sure they'll do that. I think that they'll be strong enough to accept and to deal with that pressure and to make the right decision for what's best for them and for what Manchester United is.”
JJ Gabriel is a wonderful talent. Could you provide some insight into him as a player and working with him in the Under-18s? Could he possibly be in the squad this weekend? I know the rules state that he could be involved in the FA Cup.
“Well, he could be, but he's not going to be. Obviously, anybody could be picked. But JJ is a fantastic talent. I've enjoyed working with him immensely, getting to know him, you know, he's a young lad with a massive sort of hype. You know, there's a lot of noise around him, and deservedly so, because he's a really talented kid. He works hard. He loves football. The first thing I say is he loves football. He loves training; he loves playing; he loves having the ball; he loves expressing himself; he makes fantastic decisions; he's just got an enthusiasm for the game that's just amazing. Just a 15-year-old with a bright future ahead of him. I'm super excited by his talent, but the most important thing is that he keeps developing, and he's in the Under-18s team, and he's doing fantastically well, but he's still got lots to learn. He's developing within there, but the world's his oyster, and he just needs to go on his journey, and his time will come in due course. But for just now, it's a little bit early, I think. And I think a lot of people would agree with me, but I couldn't speak highly enough of JJ, he's got an amazing family and amazing support around him, and he’s someone we're delighted to have at the club, and we just hope he keeps improving, learning every day, and just keep being the boy that he is really, and enjoying loving playing football and going and expressing himself and scoring lots of goals so the Manchester United Under-18s win every game, and then I'll be a happy man.”
You’ve previously been the technical director here, and you’ve been working in the Academy for around five years, I believe. So, are you not surprised that you're not the obvious choice for the interim manager role? After all, isn't that why you're here, to sort of learn about the club? You know the club inside out. Are you not surprised they haven’t come to you and said please do the rest of the season?
“No, I was surprised I got offered for 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. So, it wasn't something that was on my radar at all. But when I do get asked to do it, I know that I can do it. I know that I'm comfortable doing it. I know the environment. I believe in myself. I feel like I've learned a lot in the five years that I've been here. 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. So I've had five years of learning under good coaches and good people, and as I said, I feel like I've developed a rounded approach to the game of football, and I’m comfortable in a lot of different situations: academy, technical, or obviously coaching and leading. Honestly, it's two games. I'm the obvious choice for these two games, hopefully. But that's all my focus and energy is going on just now. Anything beyond that is out of my control.”
How have you found this experience, because it's such an all-consuming job, and has it made you think that in the future you would like to be a permanent number one down the line, or are you desperate to get back to the Under-18s, where the spotlight and the pressure are maybe a little less?
“I've always been quite relaxed about my future. I've enjoyed it. I really have. I've enjoyed the challenge of it. 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, and I've always tried to prepare myself to be a manager in the future. It’s something I always thought that I would maybe be quite good at, or something I'd enjoy doing, or enjoy the challenge of. But at the same time, I wanted to be really careful and make sure I was ready for that if that moment came, but 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. Like I say, I've got two young boys at the start of their footballing career, where that takes them. I've got another set of young twin girls, which takes up a lot of my time. So yeah, those things are on my mind really, and I've experienced how intense it is being a manager for less than a week. There's not much time for much outside family life and football. So I want to prepare myself to be a manager, and 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, and if it remains, staying as the Under-18s coach, I'm really happy. I enjoy doing that, and I'm going to help develop players from Manchester United.”