Manchester United’s Darren Fletcher says the side’s flagging season will perk up as of tomorrow with their Capital One Cup semi-final against Sunderland.
The 29-year-old played a full 90 minutes in yesterday’s 2-1 home FA Cup defeat at Old Trafford against Swansea City, but was unable to inspire his teammates to avoid a fourth home defeat in six games.
Fletcher, who has amassed 315 appearances for the Red Devils, said that although United are stuck in their worst run of form for over a decade the first leg of the League Cup semi-final is a prime opportunity to swing the momentum back in their favour.
“It’s got to happen soon rather than later and there’s no better way than a semi-final on Tuesday night,” said the Scottish international.
“It’s a League Cup semi-final and if you can’t lift yourself for that then it’s no good.
The game at the Stadium of Light will be United’s second in three days and seventh in just over three weeks, but box-to-box expert Fletcher is determined to see out a positive result.
“We know it’s a quick turnaround but we need to really put in a performance now and show people that we are a good team and we are looking to win competitions.
“We feel we have let the manager and the fans and everyone down today by losing and it’s not good enough. We’re going to have to raise our performance levels.”
Fletcher was unsurprised by boos from some sections of Old Trafford last night but was heartened to hear vocal support from the Stretford End after the final whistle.
“We’re letting the fans down but to be fair to them they are really sticking by us, and that’s great to see as well,” said Fletcher, who returned to competitive football last year following an 11-month break to combat the inflammatory bowel condition ulcerative colitis.
“We’ve got to repay that and I think the players saw that coming off the pitch on Sunday.
“Yes, there were a few boos, but when we got to the Stretford End there were a lot of fans clapping and singing for United so the players have got to really see that, know that they are behind us and put in performances for the fans and the manager.”
Image courtesy of Sky Sports via YouTube, with thanks.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
