'They have to step up': Darren Fletcher slams his players after Manchester United bow out early in FA Cup

Manchester United’s struggles continued as they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the third round on Sunday after a 1-2 defeat to Brighton. The loss means the Red Devils are not in contention for any trophies this season. They are not in any UEFA competition after their disastrous 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season and were already knocked out of the League Cup last August by second division side Grimsby Town. The loss to Brighton means their only chance to silverware now has disappeared.

United will now be playing only 40 matches this season with first-game exits in both the League and FA Cups. This is set to be their lowest tally over a full campaign since playing 39 in the 1914-15 season.

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Without a permanent manager for about a week since the sacking of Ruben Amorim, United are currently playing under the interim appointee Darren Fletcher and he wants his players to do better on the field.

Darren Fletcher wants his players to take responsibility

Fletcher, the 10th man to take the responsibility as United’s manager since the retirement of Alex Ferguson, was not happy with his players after the loss to Brighton.

“Managing Manchester United is one of the most difficult challenges out there, especially in this difficult period,” he said on Sunday after the defeat.

“I just look at the quality and the players that we have in the squad. I think, if they can come together as a team, unify and come behind whoever is going to lead them forward, they are capable of achieving what they need to achieve. Finish in top four or five, Champions League place has got to be the objective. Definitely, they have the talent to do it. But they are the ones who have go out on the pitch.

“For me, the players have got to take responsibility for that as well. It is not on the manager. It is not on the club. It is on everyone together and they have to step up to the plate now. They have got a lot of leaders in the group. They have to come together as a team and dig deep to win matches,” Fletcher said.

United, seventh in the Premier League with three points separating them from top three, have big challenges up their sleeves. The Red Devils will be hosting the second-placed Manchester City next before visiting leaders Arsenal in two matches that are expected to be huge hurdles in their hopes for top four.