Darren Fletcher has borne the brunt of plenty of jibes since
establishing himself ain the Manchester United first-team squad -
and says there are still people at the club who don’t think he has
the talent to become a star at Old Trafford.
The Scotland international has been the subject of several
transfer rumours this summer, but is determined to tough it out at
United.
He has endured accusations that he is afforded preferential
treatment by Ferguson because they are both Scots, but knows it is
only his ability that has kept him at club since he first broke
into the first-team in 2003.
He said of the jibes when talking to The Manchester Evening
News: "He [Fergie] gets called my dad, my granddad, you name
it.
"I get it all the time and I'm sure people think that's why I'm
in the team.
"I've been there since I was 12 and maybe he took a special
interest because I was Scottish. But I know when I signed it didn't
matter if you were Scottish, Norwegian or whatever. If you are not
good enough, you won't get in the team.
"I've been in the youth team with a lot of Scottish players. A lot
of Scottish players have been there and I don't think the manager
would have had the success he's had if he only wanted Scottish
players in his team.
"I get a lot of people saying I'm only picked because I'm Scottish
and that's fine. It's water off a duck's back. People will say what
they want, there is nothing you can do about that."
Everton, Sunderland and Birmingham have all been interested in
signing Fletcher, 24, this summer, since the end of last season,
but Ferguson has not been tempted to sell.
He agrees he has a strong relationship with Ferguson, but no
stronger than that enjoyed by his United team-mates.
"We can talk about Scottish football, but at the same time he's
talking to Ronaldo and Nani about the Portuguese game," he
said.
"He loves his football that much that he goes home and watches all
these games. He will talk to me about Celtic and Rangers and the
Scotland game, but at the same time he will talk about Sporting
Lisbon's game.
"You can say what you want. I never came to Manchester United
because Alex Ferguson is Scottish.
"I came to Manchester United because they were the best team in the
Premier League and Alex Ferguson was the best manager.
"You want to learn from the best and if I didn't achieve it here I
always said I could say I gave my best and if I came up short then
fine.”
He added: "There is competition for places, which drives you on,
but until you are at the stage when you are not needed, then you
have to move on. I've not felt like that, but who knows what the
future holds or when your time is up at United?
"The manager decides that or if you feel you are not helping the
team or playing enough games and then it is time to go.
"But until that time comes I'm going to work hard and take every
disappointment and use it as a fuel to get into the team."
