“Should never have been like that”: Fletcher blasts FA over farcical scenes in Youth Cup defeat

Manchester United under-18s fell to a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Youth Cup final last night. Season of seconds United’s youngsters were cheered on by an enthusiastic away end and senior figures such as manager Michael Carrick and club captain Bruno Fernandes. The young Red Devils fell behind to a Floyd Samba free kick before excellently equalising through Godwill Kukonki just seconds later. Nevertheless, United conceded in the 87th minute to Reigan Heskey and lost their second final of the year. Darren Fletcher’s side had already lost on penalties to Crystal Palace in the Premier League Cup and finished second in the league. Fletcher outrage United were already disappointed by City’s decision to play the match at the 7,000-capacity Joie Stadium after rejecting the Red Devils’ offer to play the match at Old Trafford. The United under-18s head coach was in an even worse mood after the game, according to The Athletic. Speaking after the match, Fletcher criticised City’s post-match ceremony of announcing Oliver Reiss’ coaching staff to collect their medals, followed by each individual player, as his United team were forced to watch on. The Scot angrily claimed, “not only to watch a team lift the trophy but also for it to be a Man City parade when it’s an FA Youth Cup Final, I’ve never heard individual coaches be shouted out, every individual player shouted out, that doesn’t happen in cup finals.” The former United midfielder expressed his disappointment with the Football Association for letting the events take place. He lamented, “so I’m disappointed in the FA for everything that has gone on around this game — for the location and then our players having to deal with that. It’s disappointing. We have to stand there, we 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. That’s my one gripe tonight but the best team won; compliments to them.” Fletcher also felt that the FA need to take more responsibility in the organisation of the Youth Cup events as it is an “historic competition”. He also expressed his disappointment that it felt more like a Manchester City competition than an FA competition. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.