Fletcher: There's still a lot to play for

The Reds fell at the third-round hurdle as a late goal from Benjamin Sesko was not enough to cancel out strikes from Brajan Gruda and former United man Danny Welbeck in the 2-1 defeat.

Fletcher answered questions on how the squad bounce back from this setback, aims for the rest of the season and gave his assessment of the players in his post-match press conference.

Here's everything our interim head coach had to say...

What's the mood, and what's the atmosphere been like in the changing room after that?

"Well, bitterly disappointed because we're out of the FA Cup. I think the players see the reaction at the end and, you know, deservedly so. And so we're disappointed with the result and probably disappointed with some moments in the game, especially responding to Brighton's first goal. I think we took too long to respond from that. So, players are down, disappointed, hurt. But they're going to have to pick themselves up and recover because we've got a big game next week."

We saw Omar [Berrada] and Jason [Wilcox] here again today. Have you had any conversations after that? And if not, I just wondered that whoever comes in, whether that’s yourself or someone else, how big of a task is it to lift these players?

"Well, first of all, I've not had conversations, just finished the game and doing media, speaking to the players, speaking to the staff. Any time you come in at Manchester United, it's a massive job. The thing for me is there’s still a lot to play for this season and I think if I look at the players, and we get players back from injury, and AFCON, and we get a fuller squad, I think these players have got the ability to qualify in a Champions League place, and that should be their objective, that should be their mindset. But they're going to have to come together and be part of that as well. It's not about a manager; it's not about directors. It's about everyone, and the players have to group together, take responsibility, find a way of, you know, improving quickly and taking on the challenge for the rest of the season. Don't waste the season."

Darren, how do you describe Manchester United at the moment? Because from an outside perspective, the club’s not winning games, obviously Ruben’s gone, we don't know who's going to take the team against Manchester City. It looks like a bit of a mess.

"Well, it's not in a great moment. Yeah, let's be honest, out the cups early. But as I said, there's still a Champions League place to fight for and I still think that can be achieved this season. And it's probably not what fans want to hear about Manchester United because you should be winning cups and challenging for the Premier League. But probably the objective this season, with the quality we've got and the league positions and how tight is, they've still got a lot of league games left that they can achieve that. So, that should be [what] all their focus and energy is going into. Improving as a team, improving quickly, and don't waste the season. And I think that would be the challenge that I would set. That's the challenge that probably the players feel like they need to achieve this year. And anything other than that is just noise, really. That's what all their energy and focus has got to go into."

Obviously, the club is ordinarily used to playing a lot of games, I mean, now you've now gone out of the two cup competitions at the first hurdle; the most you could play now is 40 [games]. If you go back to the 1914/15 season for the last time in a full season the club played fewer, and it’s 1982 the last time you went out so early in two domestic cup competitions. Does that sort of show where things are at?

"That is where we're at. Yeah, we can't hide behind that. We've got to face that. And we've got to deal with that and it's not Manchester United level or what's expected of Manchester United, but ultimately, we have to do something about that and still, not success, but take a step forward by qualifying for a Champions [League place]. I keep repeating that, it sounds like a broken record, but there's still a lot to play for in the league this season and Champions League places are important for a number of reasons that I don't need to go into, that you guys know. And for the players, it's important and for attracting players it's important. So, in all levels and for them to feel like this season has achieved an objective of some sorts. But I keep saying that; the players have got to step up as well. They need to come together and they will and I’d challenge them to do that. They’ve got enough leaders and experience and quality to do it. Learn how to deal with setbacks and conceding goals, try and build confidence. By doing that, you're going to have to grind out ways to win. It's not always a pretty way, especially when you're low confidence or you're conceding goals. Sometimes you have to roll your sleeves up, work hard, come together as a team, grind it out, and then from there you can build performances, and momentum, and confidence, and results."

You were part of a team where if you went out of both cup competitions so early, it would have been the end of the world. You’ve just spoken to the players. Do you think that this group understand that responsibility, and that situation, and the mentality that you had of a player in that group that you were with as a player? Do they have something similar?

"Well, they understand. They understand it. They understand the club, they understand the expectations. I keep saying it: I was lucky to play with the players that I played [with] and the dressing room that I had, and I learned from the older players and then it became a cycle. You know, we weren't aware of that when we were young, we were aware of [what] we thought we knew, we didn't, and the older players and the experienced players and the ones who'd been there before and did it, they educated us. They moulded us, Sir Alex moulded us. And that was a cycle that was created, but that takes time to create. But again, there's experienced players in that dressing room who need to come together, who need to carry the team, who need to challenge the team, who need to make the new players or the ones that maybe don't understand it [aware]. They going to have to challenge them and pull them along with them. They're going to have to drag them. And I hope that they do."

I think it was four years ago, you were in the backroom staff when the season ended quite early with the Atletico defeat, and it really did spiral. It felt like that squad was quite toxic. Do you think this squad is in a better place to actually achieve that objective, qualifying for the Champions League?

"Yes, I do. I think they are. I think in terms of that was a very strange season. I think there was, and listen, I don’t want to throw names; there was a lot of players out of contract and there was a lot of different dynamics and it was difficult when we went out in the Champions League. There was a massive drop off. You could see that, that was visible for everyone to see. But that also let us know the true characters of the players. So, actually, for disappointing season, although the end of the season looked terrible, true character reveals itself in difficult times, so we learned a lot about a lot of the players in that situation. So, that’ll be the same about these lads now, you know, difficult times, true character is going to show. So, they have to dig in, show they want to be part of Manchester United's future, learn from this. And ultimately, if you're not, then I don't think you should be here or will be here. Sounds strong, but that's just the reality and the way it should be."

Do you have any idea of the timescale? Obviously, there is a really big game coming up next weekend and there does need to be some kind of structure in place.

"I have to report tomorrow morning to Carrington. That's all I know. So, I'll find out whatever I need to find out tomorrow morning..."

Have you had any indication which way it’s going?

"I've had zero indication, and because all my energy and focus and concentration has had to be on these two games, in such a quick turnaround, and preparing the team, a three-game week, you know, everything that I said. So, I genuinely mean that. It's a massive responsibility to lead this club, and I've gave it my best and ultimately I'm disappointed to not be able to win a game or to get a result today. But I feel like there were some good things in there, we created a lot of chances, shots, things like that. But, ultimately, it wasn't enough. So I am more disappointed than anybody, really, because I care for the club and I want the club to do well and I want the players to do well. And genuinely mean that, it's not about me. I've had my time as a player, it's in the bank now, it's done. Loved every minute of it, was very lucky. It's all about them. But we need to help them, the club need to help them, and they're going to need to help themselves."