Erik ten Hag hails Darren Fletcher for his work at Man United – less than a year after ‘SNUBBING his advice to sign Nathan Collins over £57m summer arrival Lisandro Martinez’
- Fletcher, 39, was appointed as United’s first technical director in March 2021
- Ten Hag revealed Fletcher’s role while discussing plans for winger Amad Diallo
- The United boss confirmed that he sees a future for Diallo, 20, at Old Trafford
Erik ten Hag has paid tribute to the work Darren Fletcher does with Manchester United’s young loan stars – despite the Dutch manager snubbing his advice to sign defender Nathan Collins.
Fletcher was appointed as United’s first technical director in March 2021 after previously working in a coaching role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ten Hag revealed Fletcher’s role behind the scenes while discussing the progression plan for 20-year-old winger Amad Diallo.
The United boss confirmed that he sees a future for Diallo at Old Trafford following the youngster’s impressive season on loan at Sunderland.
‘We loan such players to let them develop and make progress. To bring them back… that is the aim of a loan,’ Ten Hag said on Friday.
Erik ten Hag has paid tribute to the work Darren Fletcher does with United’s young loan stars
Fletcher was appointed as technical director in 2021 after working under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
‘We are really strong on them on the matter of the way we mentor them, and so we follow them and we have communication through all the season, especially Darren Fletcher.
‘He invests a lot in such processes and the aim is to bring them back as a better player and with better experience.’
Fletcher, 39, joined United as a schoolboy in 1995 and went on to play 342 times for the club.
He won five Premier League titles, the League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League – and is a cult figure among fans.
He advised the club to move for ex-Stoke City defender Collins, but Ten Hag launched a raid on his former club Ajax and signed Lisandro Martinez.
The Scot was appointed as technical director because he fit the system that was already in place as opposed to any change of policy.
Fletcher fit the cultural mould but also offered the kind of experience United’s head of football development John Murtough didn’t have.
He has a technical input at all levels of the club and a longer-term vision than the manager whose job is to produce results on a weekly basis.
Fletcher was already a regular at Carrington while finishing off his coaching A licence and helping out with the club’s Under 15s and Under 16s.
The Dutch manager snubbed Fletcher’s advice to sign ex-Stoke City defender Nathan Collins
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