In Round 18 of the Premier League, Manchester United beat Newcastle United 1-0 at home. In the 46th minute of the game, Jack Fletcher came on as a substitute for Mason Mount. In the previous round, Jack Fletcher made his Manchester United debut against Aston Villa. After the game, the son of Manchester United legend Darren Fletcher accepted an interview with the media.
Q: After making your United debut against Villa, you played for United again in this game. Is this the best six days of your life, or have there been better ones?
Jack Fletcher: No, there haven’t been. This is the best six days of my life. I really couldn’t ask for more. Making my debut against Villa and then being able to play at Old Trafford is incredible. I’m truly content.
Q: And Christmas fell right in the middle of it.
Jack Fletcher: Yeah, the best Christmas present. My mom can’t top this, can she? So, it’s really unbelievable.
Q: I imagine you were proud enough when you got the call-up for the Villa game, but this is different, right? Coming on as a substitute at Old Trafford.
Jack Fletcher: Yes, completely different. It was a bit unexpected. Mason felt unwell in the dressing room, and then I got the notice to get ready to play. The coach gave me some instructions, and I got prepared to go on. I tried my best to perform.
Q: We saw some of your characteristics in the game, just like we observed in the U18 and U21 teams before—winning back possession in key areas and trying to drive transitions. We often see these, but I think you have more potential, right?
Jack Fletcher: Yes, I think so too. It might take some time to adapt to the pace and intensity of the game. It’s really, really tough on the pitch. Newcastle are a good team, and it’s extremely physically demanding. Those 45 minutes were all defensive work, but we did well. I hope I can show more of my talent in the future.
Q: Can you explain to the audience who may not know much about it, how big is the gap between Premier League 2 U21 football and playing for Manchester United’s first team? How difficult is this leap?
Jack Fletcher: The gap is big, really huge. It’s mainly the intensity and the level of the opponents. Today I faced Bruno Guimarães—he’s a top player. My second game was against him, as well as world-class players like Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, and I played the full 45 minutes. I enjoyed it, but I also accepted the challenge. The intensity, the running—you have to keep up with every one of their forward runs, not letting your focus drop for a moment. That’s probably the biggest difference.
Q: I have to say, it’s always a proud moment to see a youth academy player come on. You wore the number 38 jersey, and I think this number will stay with you forever, right?
Jack Fletcher: Yes, this number will stay with me for the rest of my life. It’s also a proud moment for my family. I can only thank the coach for the trust he’s given me—the game against Villa and these 45 minutes today. It’s a tough task, and I’m really grateful to him.
