DARREN FLETCHER has slammed the FA for letting Manchester City “take over” the Youth Cup final.
A shocked Fletcher believed the unconventional trophy presentation put on by City was OTT, with his United players devastated on the pitch.
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Darren Fletcher’s Under-18 side were defeated 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup final Credit: Getty
City were deserving winners on Thursday night Credit: PA
Fletcher’s side were defeated 2-1 at their rivals’ academy stadium on Thursday night after a week of upheaval arranging the fixture.
And the former United midfielder, 42, questioned City’s conduct in the lead-up to the final, as well as how organisers handled the post-match celebrations.
Fletcher’s main grumble was with the Joie Stadium announcer, who named every City player and coach on the mic as they collected their medals, as United youngsters watched on.
Asked if his players would only grow stronger from the heartbreak of watching the parade, Fletcher raged: “Not only to watch a team lift a trophy, but to be a Man City parade when it’s an FA Youth Cup final.
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“I’ve never heard individual coaches be shouted out, every individual player be shouted out. That doesn’t happen in cup finals.
“So I’m disappointed in the FA for everything that’s gone [on] around this game, for the location, for everything.
“And then our players having to deal with that. But as you say, it’s disappointing. You have to stand there.
“You have to respect the opposition. But not when Man City take over an FA Youth Cup. It’s an FA competition. It should never have been like that.
United started well but faded in the second half and Fletcher believes there are lessons in failure Credit: Reuters
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“But that’s my one gripe for tonight. But the best team won, compliments to them.”
It is understood Fletcher aired his views forcefully, shouting at FA officials while the post-match presentations took place.
City declined to comment on Fletcher’s complaints. But they expressed private amusement given his sons Jack and Tyler spent their formative years at City’s academy, before they signed for United in July 2023.
Fletcher soon switched attention to stress his utmost respect for City Under-18 boss Oliver Reiss and his strong playing squad.
Asked if the FA need to take some ownership back of their flagship junior competition, the Scot said: “Probably a little bit.
“If you see the things that have gone on throughout this game, it’s a historic competition. So there’s been a lot of disappointments in the build -up.
“But what I will say is City have got a fantastic manager. He’s a great, really nice guy. Dead respectful. Coaches his team the right way.”
City Under-18 lead coach Oliver Reiss was praised by Fletcher Credit: Getty
Pep enjoyed the game too
The seeds of the drama were sown a week ago. The final was provisionally set for May 9, with City handed hosting rights after qualifying first.
Facing a logistical headache, City delayed making a decision before moving the showpiece event away from the Etihad Stadium to their 7,000-capacity ground inside the club’s training centre.
Youth Cup finals are traditionally held in the host’s main ground, with Old Trafford welcoming 67,000 fans in 2022 and Villa Park seeing 25,000 through the turnstiles last season.
Fletcher added: “But it’s an FA competition and it felt like it was a Man City competition for this whole build-up to the game [and] in terms of how we had to deal with that at the end there.
“So that was my one little bit of disappointment from that is that these things are looked at.
“You know, we have other things with the Under-21s game being 48 hours after this. So some of our players aren’t going to experience that.
“We’re dealing with a lot of difficult dynamics just now in terms of these youth fixtures, which is disappointing.”
With the Etihad unavailable, the FA and United offered for Old Trafford to host this year’s final but City understandably did not want to lose home advantage.
Construction work on the new stand at the Etihad was a complicating factor and City ultimately could not make the 53,000 arena available for the game.
During the match, the hosts were physically dominant after the break before Emile Heskey’s son Reigan smashed home the winner on 87 minutes.
Meanwhile, to add to the chaos the cardboard podium collapsed during City’s champagne-sprayed celebrations.
Fletcher expressed “pride” in his Under-18s after a solid season, stressing that they will learn more from defeat.
He said: “We came up short tonight and if you look back at the game you have to say the best team won. And sometimes you have to hold your hands up.”
The former United midfielder suggested he’ll be back leading a new groups of Under-18s next season.
Fletcher’s side’s triple hopes ended up in smoke as United finished runners up to City in the Northern League and lost the Prem Cup final on penalties at Selhurst Park.
City’s delay leaves United with a weakened team in their Premier League 2 final on Saturday, with key players needed by Fletcher and Under-21 manager Adam Lawrence.
United youngsters Chido Obi and Jim Thwaites and City’s Heskey and Ryan McAidoo were among the players who would be wanted by both their Under-18s and Under-21s managers.
