Man Utd rule out club legend after being blown away by manager talks

Manchester United are close to making an appointment (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United have ruled out appointing Darren Fletcher as caretaker manager after the FA Cup defeat to Brighton ensured the club will go another season without a trophy.

Already out of the title race and the Carabao Cup, a United team who failed to qualify for Europe had their last chance of silverware ended as they suffered an early exit in the FA Cup .

Brajan Gruda gave Brighton the lead after just 12 minutes and former United striker Danny Welbeck’s second-half goal meant Benjamin Sesko ’s late header was merely a consolation .

A third-round FA Cup exit and a second-round Carabao Cup defeat – to League Two side Grimsby Town, no less – means United exited both domestic cup competitions at the earliest possible stage for the first time since 1981-82.

Two technically first-round cup exits and the absence of any European competition also means United are set to play the fewest numbers of games this season in over 100 years.

A disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brighton did little to boost Fletcher’s hopes of becoming United’s caretaker manager until the end of the season, when Old Trafford bosses will appoint Ruben Amorim ’s permanent replacement.

Fletcher, a United legend who won five league titles under Sir Alex Ferguson , was placed in interim charge of the side after Amorim’s sacking last week .

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Ruben Amorim lost his job at Old Trafford last week (Picture: Getty)

The 41-year-old was naturally considered for the caretaker job but could only draw to relegation-battlers Burnley in his other game in charge .

Those two underwhelming performances have seemingly convinced Manchester United to look elsewhere for a short-term boss, with Fabrizio Romano claiming Fletcher is no longer on the running.

Fletcher will therefore shortly return to his role with the U18 side and looks set to hand over the reins to his former teammate Michael Carrick.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be snubbed by United (Picture: Getty)

Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both held talks with the United hierarchy last week and ex-manager Solskjaer was initially believed to be the favourite for the job .

But no final decision was made and Manchester United, according to The Sun , were ‘miffed’ at the noise and confidence surrounding Solskjaer’s return.

United finished second in the Premier League under the club legend but Solskjaer looked drained and miserable by the time he lost his job in 2021 .

@metrosportuk Is Solskjær the wrong choice for United? 🤷‍♂️ Manchester United and their former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær have reportedly been in direct talks about him returning, but this time, as a caretaker manager following Ruben Amorim’s sacking. BUT, since he won nothing in three years with the club, are they going to go backwards? #manchesterunited #amorim #solskjaer #manager #premierleague ♬ original sound – Metro Sport

It took almost four years for the former Norway international to return to management and that return did not go well as he arrived and departed Besiktas in the space of seven months .

Talks with Solskjaer are said to have gone well but not anywhere near as well as those with Carrick, who impressed the United decision-makers with his communication, methods and plans for the rest of the season.

As a result Carrick, one of the best English midfielders of his generation, has become the clear favourite for the Old Trafford gig.

Michael Carrick impressed Old Trafford bosses (Picture: Getty)

Carrick was briefly United’s caretaker boss after Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2018 and had another spell in charge after Solskjaer’s sacking in 2021, having been part of his coaching staff for the previous three years.

The 44-year-old’s only managerial stint away from Old Trafford came at Middlesbrough and earned Carrick rave reviews before he was let go last summer.

Manchester United are planning to name their caretaker boss this week ahead of a huge local derby against Manchester City on Saturday.

Amorim’s long-term replacement will then be appointed in the summer, with Thomas Tuchel and Oliver Glasner believed to be two of the early leading contenders .

United are in no rush to make a final decision, however, and have also placed legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti on their shortlist to replace Amorim .

Amorim arrived in the Premier League with a strong reputation and a title winner in Portugal but only lasted 14 months in the job .

Ruben Amorim lasted just 14 months at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

While results on the pitch had been mixed for well over a year, the final straw for the Manchester United board was a bust-up with director of football Jason Wilcox.

Many United fans appear excited at the prospect of Carrick taking over and club legend Gary Pallister has also endorsed the ex-England star’s return.

‘Michael Carrick’s first season at Middlesbrough, I saw some of the best football I’ve ever seen there,’ Pallister told Metro on behalf of Hard Rock Bet .

‘He’s learned a lot since then. The brand of football we played under Michael in his first season was terrific. He’s got more ideas.

‘Ole, Michael and Darren Fletcher all understand Manchester United. They are steeped in the history and understand the club and what the fans demand.

‘It’s always difficult going back to a manager. But I know Ole would like to go back. Ole probably felt he was still doing a decent job when he lost it.

‘I wouldn’t be adverse giving those three [Ole, Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher] the rest of the season and see what could be done.’