Fletcher confronts abusive United fan after 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah FK

Darren Fletcher was serenaded with chants of his own name at Old Trafford on Thursday night after confronting a supporter who was being abusive towards Manchester United players following their 4-0 Champions League win over Azerbaijani side Sabah FK.

In footage circulated on social media, the former United midfielder and coach can be heard telling the fan: “Hey, listen, it doesn’t matter, you can’t speak like that,” before pointing directly at him. The surrounding supporters cheered, prompting Fletcher to add: “You’re the reason people don’t sign.” A second round of applause followed, with fans breaking into chants of “Fletcher, Fletcher, Fletcher” as he returned to his car.

On the pitch, Michael Carrick’s side made a commanding start to their Champions League campaign. Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko, and Lisandro Martinez all got on the scoresheet to give United a comfortable home victory.

Carrick was satisfied with the overall display. “Yeah, I think so. Kind of what we set out to achieve, really,” he said when asked if the result felt like the perfect return to European football. “I think it was a good performance, individually, collectively, pretty much all the way through the game, from start to finish. Boys that started, boys that came on the pitch, clean sheet, some goals and some good, exciting football. It was a good night all round.”

One note of concern emerged after the final whistle, with captain Fernandes appearing to limp as he left Old Trafford. The Portuguese midfielder was filmed moving gingerly while acknowledging supporters outside the stadium, though he had completed the full 90 minutes without any visible issue during the match. United will be hopeful the problem is minor ahead of Sunday’s derby against Manchester City.