Darren Fletcher has told Manchester United’s players that reaching the Champions League must now be their main Premier League target this season, after the club’s FA Cup exit deepened a campaign that has already seen early elimination from both domestic cup competitions.
United went out of the FA Cup on Sunday, losing 2-1 to Brighton in the third round. That defeat followed August’s EFL Cup loss to Grimsby Town and meant United went out in their first tie of both competitions in the same season for the first time since 1981-82.
Fletcher, who oversaw the 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley last week, stepped in as interim head coach after Ruben Amorim was dismissed last Monday. Fletcher is understood to be a short-term option, with Manchester
United preparing for a second interim appointment before the end of the season.
Reports on Tuesday indicated that Michael Carrick is expected to be named interim head coach for the remainder of the Premier League campaign. Former England assistant Steve Holland is set to become Carrick’s assistant, while Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans are due to join the Manchester United backroom staff.
Manchester United sit seventh in the Premier League table, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. With the standings congested, Fletcher believes a top-four finish and Champions League qualification remain realistic if performances improve and the squad responds over the remaining league fixtures.
Below is a summary of the current Premier League situation for Manchester United and Liverpool:
| Club | League position | Points behind fourth place |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | 7th | 3 |
| Liverpool | 4th | 0 |
Fletcher set out that ambition clearly, stressing that a Champions League place remains achievable despite Manchester United’s early exits.
"Well, it's not in a great moment. Yeah, let's be honest, out the cups early. But as I said, there's still a Champions League place to fight for and I still think that can be achieved this season," said Fletcher.
1981-82 - Manchester United have been eliminated from their opening tie in both the FA Cup and League Cup in the same season for the first time since the 1981-82 campaign. Over. pic.twitter.com/qifP1AXXGBOptaJoe (@OptaJoe) January 11, 2026
Fletcher also reflected on expectations around Manchester United, emphasising that the current reality means refocusing on league progress rather than trophies already lost, while reinforcing the need for a stronger collective response from the squad across the remaining Premier League schedule.
"And it's probably not what fans want to hear about Manchester United because you should be winning cups and challenging for the Premier League. But probably the objective this season, with the quality we've got and the league positions and how tight it is, they've still got a lot of league games left that they can achieve that. So, that should be [what] all their focus and energy is going into. Improving as a team, improving quickly, and don't waste the season. And I think that would be the challenge that I would set. That's the challenge that probably the players feel like they need to achieve this year. And anything other than that is just noise, really. That's what all their energy and focus has got to go into. "
Manchester United now face the rest of the Premier League season without further cup distractions, with Fletcher’s message centring on using that schedule to recover momentum, respond to the historical cup setback and secure a Champions League return through a sustained push for a top-four finish.
