Darren Fletcher hits out at FA after seeing how they handled Youth Cup final between Man Utd and Man City

Manchester United under-18s coach Darren Fletcher has said he is "disappointed" in the FA after seeing how they handled the aftermath of their FA Youth Cup final defeat to Manchester City.

On Thursday night, City claimed their fifth FA Youth Cup win as goals from Floyd Samba and Reigan Heskey, the son of former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey, sealed a 2-1 victory at the 6,000-capacity Joie Stadium, which is located within the Etihad Campus.

After the full-time whistle, each member of City's squad, including the backroom staff, were announced individually as they walked up to collect their medals, a decision that irritated United coach Darren Fletcher, who made his feelings clear as he spoke to reporters.

"Not only to watch a team lift a trophy, but to be a Man City parade when it's an FA Youth Cup final. I've never heard individual coaches be shouted out, every individual player be shouted out," he said.

"That doesn't happen in cup finals. So I'm disappointed in the FA for everything that's gone around this game, for the location, for everything. And then our players having to deal with that.

"But as you say, it's disappointing. You have to stand there. You have to respect the opposition. But not when Man City take over an FA Youth Cup. It's an FA competition. It should never have been like that."

Fletcher added: "That's my one gripe for tonight. But the best team won, compliments to them."

One of the big talking points ahead of Thursday's game was the venue. Normally, finals in the competition are held at a club's main stadium, but City were unable to play host at the Etihad due to ongoing construction works.

Fan groups called on the FA to intervene after they controversially turned down an offer to switch the fixture to Old Trafford.

In fact, the father of highly-rated United forward JJ Gabriel said the decision was a "robbery of kids' dreams", adding: "To not play it in a main stadium is ludicrous. I don't blame City, I blame the FA for allowing it to happen."

United fan groups also had their say before kick-off.

"The news that the FA Youth Cup final, a great fixture which has heralded so many superstars of the future, is to be played in a stadium of just 6,000 people is a disgrace," they said.

"Last time United were in the final we had 67,000 fans in Old Trafford, so allowing this massive game to be played in front of such a paltry few fans is letting down supporters and denying these young footballers the biggest night of their careers so far.

"The FA needs to step in and ensure the game can be played at either the Etihad or Old Trafford. Time to put fans first for once."

However, with first-team managers Pep Guardiola and Michael Carrick in attendance, the fixture was played at the Joie Stadium as City secured a narrow victory.

Fletcher mentioned there being "a lot of disappointments" in the build-up during his post-match comments, but gave credit to the opposition and their coaching staff.

"What I will say is Man City have got a fantastic manager. He's a great, really nice guy. Dead respectful. Coaches his team the right way," he said.

"You know, no antics on the sidelines between both of us. So I've got a massive respect for them. And their players have got a lot of good players. But, you know, it's an FA competition and it felt like it was a Man City competition for this whole build-up to the game in terms of how we had to deal with that at the end there.

"So that was my one little bit of disappointment from that is that these things are looked at. You know, we have other things with the Under-21s game being 48 hours after this. So some of our players aren't going to experience that.

"We're dealing with a lot of difficult dynamics just now in terms of these youth fixtures, which is disappointing. And hopefully people take a step back now when they've come away from it. And there's a lot of learning to be done for the Premier League and for the FA for these historic competitions."