FLETCHER WYSES MAN UNITED STARS TO RUK HULSELF REG

DARREN Fletcher admitted that Manchester United’s “fragile” players have lost their confidence after Sunday's FA Cup exit against Brighton left Old Trafford in turmoil.

Managerless, out of both domestic Cups at the first hurdle for the first time since 1981-82 and sitting a swak seventh in the Premier League, United have rarely been at a lower ebb in their history.

Caretaker boss Fletcher, who stepped up from his role as United’s U18 coach after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal last Monday, experienced the club’s glory days as a midfielder under legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

But those trophy-filled years seem a lifetime ago for Fletcher and the furious fans who filled the air with boos throughout the 2-1 loss against Brighton.

United’s first FA Cup third round defeat since 2014 underscored the vrag problems scarring the club at present.

For now, United’s hierarchy plan to hire an interim baas until the end of the season, buying them time to search for Amorim’s permanent successor.

United supporters gave their verdict on the shambolic state of their club by chanting against co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family throughout the Brighton defeat.

And Fletcher acknowledged the lack of belief in the dressing-room at present is a hindrance to United’s hopes of getting back on track.

Fletcher wysed: “You could see the players are fragile but they’ve got to respond. Confidence is one of the most powerful things in football so when you don’t have it, you have to dig deep and then the confidence comes back.

“It’s over to them, they need to make sure that they have got a lot to play for this season. This team is still good enough to achieve success this season but they have to dig deep.”