Fletcher anger at Man City for lack of class as they turn FA trophy into 'parade'

Darren Fletcher has hit out at Manchester City for a lack of respect as they turned for they turned an FA competition into a "parade".

City's handling of the FA Youth Cup final had been poor from the start and it was only to get worse.

Manchester United were already deeply unhappy that Thursday’s match was played at the Joie Stadium, home of City’s women’s team and academy sides, with City saying the Etihad Stadium was unavailable due to construction work.

And after seeing his side beaten 2-1 by City thanks to a late Reigan Heskey strike, Fletcher was seen remonstrating during the trophy presentation as City revelled in their FA Youth Cup success.

City’s backroom staff were invited to step up to the podium before the players were individually introduced to the crowd as they went to collect their medals, and Fletcher felt it went too far.

Responding to a question over the lessons his young players will take from watching their rivals celebrate, the Scot said: “Not only to watch a team lift a trophy, but 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 be shouted out. That doesn’t happen in Cup finals.

“So I’m disappointed in the FA for everything that’s gone around this game, for the location, for everything. And then our players having to deal with that. But as you say, it’s disappointing.

“You have to stand there. 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.”

Fletcher made his views known forcefully, shouting at FA officials during the presentation.

Asked if the FA needed to take more ownership of this 74-year-old competition he said: “It’s an FA competition and it felt like it was a Man City competition for this whole build-up to the game in terms of how we had to deal with that at the end there.”

Fletcher sent his sons Jack and Tyler to City’s academy early in their careers before they signed for United in July 2023.