Bruno Fernandes speaks on Man Utd chief he 'learned from' but Sir Jim Ratcliffe demoted
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has broken with owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to hand his full backing to Darren Fletcher, who was demoted from his role as technical director over the summer
Bruno Fernandes has hailed Darren Fletcher after the Scot was demoted over the summer.
Fletcher was appointed technical director in March 2021, working alongside football director John Murtough. The former midfielder had spent more than 20 years with United as a player, making more than 300 appearances and winning five Premier League titles.
But after arriving as the club's new controlling co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe opted to move Fletcher on, instead bringing in former Southampton and Manchester City chief Jason Wilcox as technical director in April.
It was later confirmed that Fletcher had been shifted to the role of first-team coach and away from the new executive structure led by Dan Ashworth. But Fernandes has now placed his full backing behidn Fletcher, revealing the Scot is one of the key people he talks to.
"He [Darren Fletcher] has been talking with me a lot during this time. I think he’s one of the people that I like to talk to. I like to learn from him, because he’s been successful at the club. He’s been part of a big success of the club," Fernandes told MUTV.
"So he knows what it needs to get that success. He’s always a person that I always try to speak to and learn from. Those words from him, it was meaningful, because he’s been saying that to me since the day I’ve been with him at the club: that I deserve to be here, that I’m a proper United player.
"So it touches a little bit, because it’s from someone that has achieved a lot. When there’s a change, it’s a different mood and it’s really nice. At the beginning, it’s always the best part, because you get to know each other, there are new ways of working.
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"But then we have to get this going into the season and understand that it’s going to get to a point that’s repetitive, but we need to keep the same enthusiasm that we had at the beginning."
Fletcher's demotion follows the appointments of Rene Hake and Ruud van Nistelrooy as assistant managers to Ten Hag, while Andreas Georgson has also arrived as a first-team coach. Sporting director Dan Ashworth is hoping the changes can help Ten Hag bounce back from a difficult second campaign.
“Together with Erik, we are working to strengthen all areas of our men’s first-team operations, and refreshing the coaching staff is an important part of that," Ashworth said when Hake and Van Nistelrooy arrived.
“It’s a particular pleasure to welcome Ruud back to the club where he enjoyed so much success as a player, and I know that he and Rene will help reinforce the winning mentality and high standards we are aiming for.”
United start their season with a home clash against Fulham on Friday night. Fletcher will take his seat in the Old Trafford dugout, despite falling down the pecking order of Ten Hag's advisors.
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