Manchester United's current crop of youngsters have been
told by Darren Fletcher to forget about the trappings of success until they
have won some silverware.
United manager Louis van Gaal has been forced to turn to the
likes of Marcus Rashford, Guillermo Varela and Timothy Fosu-Mensah in recent
weeks due to a lengthy injury list.
The club has a long tradition of promoting from the academy
and West Brom midfielder Fletcher, who won four league titles and a Champions
League at Old Trafford before heading to The Hawthorns last year, is one of the
most successful graduates since the Class of 92.
Speaking ahead of the Super Sunday game between the sides,
his advice for those who have broken through at Old Trafford this campaign is
that they have a long way to go yet before they can be considered alongside the
likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and David Beckham.
"There are challenges that still lie ahead for those
young players to prove, but keep it going just now," he said.
"I would say to them keep working hard and don't think
you've made it just yet. You've made it when you've won two or three Premier
Leagues and you've played for four or five seasons.
"That is when you can buy your Bentley or your super
car. That is when you have made it."
While the burden of expectation at Old Trafford is obvious,
Fletcher has found that life at the other end of the table has been even more
intense.
"I found more pressure last season staying in the
league," he added.
"Going for a title is a buzz and there's that pressure
to perform on a big stage and there's more scrutiny at Manchester United.
"But the pressure of staying in the league is a lot
more intense and that hit me very quickly."
Despite Van Gaal letting him leave United six months after
taking over, Fletcher has given his backing to the under-fire Dutchman.
"The scrutiny is there at Manchester United - I
experienced that under Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, that's just what it
is at that club," said the Scotsman.
"The club's expected to win titles, challenging for the
top four is not what the fans want, it's not good enough for Manchester United.
That's the challenge that he's facing and I think he has realised that now.
"The form has picked up dramatically the last few weeks
and the young lads have come in and done fantastically.
"They've found themselves in a position now where the
top four is a realistic possibility and the title is not out of the question.
"I'm not saying they're going to win the league but
they are thereabouts now and if anybody can put a run together, they're
probably going to go on and do it.
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