Interim boss Darren Fletcher finally loses his cool in the dressing room and singles out one Manchester United star for the 2-2 draw
The rain hammered down on Turf Moor, but inside Manchester United’s dressing room, the cold was far more brutal. The team had just scraped a 2-2 draw against 19th-place Burnley—a result that felt less like a fresh start after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and more like a replay of old frustrations. Benjamin Šeško had put United ahead with two brilliant goals, yet a defensive lapse allowed Jaidon Anthony to curl in a soul-crushing equalizer.
Darren Fletcher, a man whose veins run Manchester United red, didn’t wait for anyone to settle or sip water. He slammed the metal door so hard the tactical board rattled. His face was a storm of anger as his gaze swept over the multimillion-pound squad, finally locking on Lisandro Martinez. Normally the team’s defensive anchor, Martinez had been caught out of position for Anthony’s strike, leaving the goal wide open.
“Look at me,” Fletcher barked, the room falling into an icy hush. “Twenty years at this club, and I’ve seen players risk everything for this badge. And now I watch you, the so-called ‘warrior,’ stroll around like it’s a charity match.” Martinez opened his mouth to respond, but Fletcher stepped closer, his roar echoing against the concrete walls. “GET OUT OF MY CLUB! I don’t care how much you cost, how big your name is—you played like that against Burnley, you don’t deserve this shirt. You watched him shoot. You gave up!”
The squad, including captain Bruno Fernandes, remained frozen as Fletcher grabbed a damp United jersey and hurled it at Martinez. “Pack your things. Call your agent. Call the board. As long as I’m in this technical area, you won’t play for me again. You think you’re bigger than United? You’re not even big enough for the bench.” He spun on his heel, chest heaving. “The rest of you? Ten minutes on the bus—or stay here in Burnley. I’ve had enough of excuses.”
When Fletcher left, the silence lingered like a physical weight. Martinez stared at the floor, the reality settling in: at Manchester United, the era of second chances had come to an abrupt end.
