Fletcher will deploy a back four in his first match as Manchester United caretaker, with Bruno Fernandes eager to play! The promising young star has withdrawn his transfer request.

Manchester United’s two matches this week will be led by interim manager Darren Fletcher, who currently coaches the U18 squad, ranking second in the Premier League U18 with four points behind Manchester City U18 after three extra games. Under Fletcher’s leadership, United is likely to adopt a four-defender formation.

According to British media, Fletcher may use either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation. If captain Bruno Fernandes recovers as hoped, he will return to the number 10 role or at least play in a more advanced position. After missing three games due to injury, Bruno has resumed training on the pitch and sources reveal he has "pleaded" with Fletcher to let him play, with a decision expected tomorrow.

This season, Fletcher described his coaching philosophy as: "Fast counter-attacks—that’s the real Manchester United. I show the youngsters videos of counterattack goals by Rooney, Ronaldo, and Park Ji-sung. I want them to understand some of Manchester United’s DNA."

The player most likely to benefit from the managerial change is 20-year-old academy midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. Before Amroliyan’s dismissal, he was sidelined due to injury but has recently returned to solo training sessions. Since the coaching change, he is closer to making a comeback.

Sources confirm tension between Mainoo and Amroliyan, with a shouting match between them during a training match at Carrington late last season. Mainoo and his family, especially his brother Jordan, were not supporters of Amroliyan. Following Amroliyan’s departure, they withdrew the transfer request and intend to stay and see how things develop.

If Manchester United returns to a four-defender system, it better suits Mainoo’s style, giving him more freedom as an extra midfielder rather than strict defensive duties. However, many fans believe that while Amroliyan deserved to be dismissed, players like Mainoo and management figures such as Jason Wilcox should also not remain.

There is also strong interest in whether Fletcher will utilize his twin sons, Jack and Tyler Fletcher. Both were substitutes in Amroliyan’s last match against Leeds United, with Jack even getting some playing time. The last time Manchester United had a father-son duo as manager and player was also Scottish; Sir Alex Ferguson once fielded his son Darren Ferguson, who interestingly is also one of Sir Alex’s twins!

Fletcher is Manchester United’s first Scottish manager since Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes. As a player, he was jokingly called Ferguson’s "godson," and notably, his name Darren is the same as Ferguson’s son.

It’s hard to assess coach Fletcher’s level yet, but two things are clear: first, he deeply cares about Manchester United. He could have taken charge of the U18s earlier but waited until his sons moved up to the U21s to avoid any accusations of favoritism.

Fletcher joined Manchester United at age 12 and returned to Old Trafford in 2020. He left in the January 2015 transfer window for West Bromwich Albion, describing it as "leaving through the back door." He revealed, "I could have had a testimonial from United, but I didn’t want one."

The other certainty is Fletcher will enjoy a better public opinion environment than Amroliyan. He is a former teammate of many United legends, especially close to Roy Keane and Wayne Rooney.

Keane was an early idol for Fletcher and later took great care of him, even offering to assist with contract matters. However, Keane was strict in training, often sending long balls at Fletcher and others to test their technical skills.

Fletcher took Keane’s teachings seriously, treating every training session like a World Cup final. Once, he angered Keane by switching teams mid-training match, prompting Keane to shout, "Fletcher, get lost! You played terrible on my side but like Zidane after switching!"

In 2011, Fletcher was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, causing him to visit the bathroom 30 to 40 times daily and lose significant weight. Despite being named in the Professional Footballers’ Association Team of the Year, he only played a few matches over the next four years and struggled with daily life, unable to take his children to the park or restaurants due to urgent bathroom needs.

Sir Alex Ferguson provided huge support, and Fletcher can still call him anytime for help. He overcame the illness and continued playing for West Brom and other Premier League clubs. After retiring and returning to Manchester United, Fletcher is a respected first-team coach with good fitness, occasionally joining training to help improve the squad.

The only difference now is he can no longer prank teammates as he did as a player. His favorite target was defender Wes Brown, whose new Adidas Predator boots Fletcher filled with red food coloring, dyeing Brown’s feet red. Unaware, Brown complained to his agent and requested replacements, but Fletcher repeated the prank with the new pair.

Manchester United U21 head coach Travis Binnion will temporarily join Fletcher’s coaching staff to help prepare for Premier League matches against Burnley and the FA Cup third round tie against Brighton. The two have worked closely in the United youth system but in reversed roles previously.

In recent weeks, U21 assistant coach Allen Wright has taken leave for personal reasons, with Fletcher stepping in to assist Binnion during matches. This has broken Fletcher’s long-held principle of not directly managing his two sons.