Fletcher urges Red Devils not to ''waste the season''

Interim boss Darren Fletcher urged Manchester United not to “waste the season” after their early FA Cup exit to Brighton, insisting that Champions League qualification is still a realistic objective.

“Don't waste the season,” he said. “That would be the challenge I would set.

“It's not a great moment, let's be honest. We are out of the cups early.

“But true character shows itself at difficult times.

“There's still a Champions League place to fight for - and I still think that can be achieved this season.

“It's probably not what fans want to hear about Manchester United because we should be winning cups and challenging for the Premier League. But it is probably the object of this season.

“All the players' focus and energy should go into improving as a team - and improving quickly.

“Anything other than that is just noise.”

Fletcher was speaking after United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Brighton at Old Trafford , their 2-1 defeat underlining the speed at which momentum can disappear at the club.

When the Seagulls last visited 11 weeks earlier, a third successive win appeared to signal progress under Ruben Amorim . Since then, Amorim has departed and results have deteriorated sharply.

United have now exited both domestic cup competitions at the first opportunity for the first time since the 1981-82 season and are set for a 40-game campaign, their shortest in more than a century.

They host Manchester City next Saturday without a permanent manager in place, having won just one of their past seven matches.