Darren Fletcher revealed on Tuesday that he sought advice from former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson before stepping in as interim head coach.

The former United midfielder has taken over on a caretaker basis following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal on Monday. Amorim was sacked after a turbulent 14 months at Old Trafford, which ended with public criticism of the club’s hierarchy.

United have faced recurring challenges since Ferguson retired following their most recent English title in 2013. Fully aware of the club’s issues, Fletcher contacted Ferguson, who remains a regular presence at Old Trafford, before temporarily stepping up from his role as under-18s coach for Wednesday’s Premier League trip to Burnley.

“I have spoken to him,” Fletcher said. “I don’t like to make any major decisions without speaking to Sir Alex—that’s something I’ve done since I’ve been at the club and even since I left. I’ve got a really good relationship with him, so he was the first person I phoned. I wanted to speak to him and ultimately get his blessing. I think he deserves that respect.

“He was supportive and echoed my thoughts. I’ve always believed it’s your job to do the best for Manchester United. Hearing him say that was comforting and something I try to live by every day.”

Since taking over, Fletcher has not been in contact with Amorim. He becomes United’s sixth caretaker manager since Ferguson’s retirement, with former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and ex-Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick reportedly in contention to lead the team until a permanent replacement is appointed.

Reflecting on criticism from former United players, Fletcher emphasized the need for managers to embrace scrutiny at “the biggest club in the world.”

“You can’t ask them to go easier—they’re passionate and have a right to their opinion,” he said of figures such as Gary Neville, Roy Keane, and Paul Scholes. “They’re really good, and that’s part of the environment at Manchester United.”