Manchester United coach Darren Fletcher has criticised the Football Association’s handling of the Youth Cup final, saying it felt like opponents Manchester City had “taken over” the competition.
United lost the final 2-1 at Joie Stadium to complete a disappointing end to the campaign.
Fletcher’s team lost the Premier League Under-18 Cup to Crystal Palace on penalties after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser and also came second to City in Premier League North.
Venue Choice Sparks Disappointment
Fletcher said Oliver Reiss’ City side were the better team in Thursday’s Youth Cup final, but he was not happy with how the occasion had been handled.
City rejected United’s offer to host the match at Old Trafford after the Blues said it could not be held at Etihad Stadium because of ongoing construction works.
United academy staff felt this deprived players of both sides the opportunity to play a showcase final in what they felt was an appropriate setting. Joie Stadium is City’s 7,000-capacity home for their academy and women’s teams, and sits adjacent to the club’s main stadium.
Despite Manchester City officials saying it was a sell-out, only the United section was full, with large numbers of empty seats in the home sections for a match watched by both first-team bosses, City’s Pep Guardiola and United’s Michael Carrick.
Fletcher’s Grievances with Post-Match Presentation
Fletcher was further annoyed by what he felt was the over-the-top manner in which City’s players and coaches were announced as they went to collect their winners’ medals from EFL chairman Rick Parry.
“I’m disappointed in the FA for everything that’s gone around this game: for the location, for everything,” said United Under-18s coach Fletcher.
“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.
“I’ve never heard individual coaches be shouted out and every individual player be shouted out. That doesn’t happen in cup finals.
“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.
“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.
Timing Clash Frustrates Man United Coach
Fletcher is also clearly unhappy about the timing of the Premier League 2 play-off final at Brighton.
That game in the competition for under-21 players is forming part of a double-header at Amex Stadium this Saturday evening, with a 19:30 BST kick-off. It follows a Women’s Super League game at the stadium earlier in the day.
The proximity to the Youth Cup final makes it tough for a significant portion of Fletcher’s side, who are also PL2 regulars, to play.