United are only five points behind their city rivals and Fletcher insists the Red Devils can still win the Premier League title.
“Without doubt we realise how much stick and how much banter there will be for our fans,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “We know how much it is hurting.
“The players are hurting just as much. We have to live in the city as well so we are also going to have to deal with it. But as I kept reiterating to the lads after the game, remember how it feels to lose by this scoreline.
“There is a long season to go. There are no medals handed out at this stage of the season.
“It is a bad result losing to Manchester City but this doesn’t mean the league is over. We have to respond and win our next game.
“City are in a great position but Chelsea were in this position last year and were clear. They are the team at the top and everyone will be trying to knock them off.
“We are disappointed, really disappointed but we will have to bounce back. It is a problem to bounce back from a scoreline like this. Nobody wants to lose by the margin we did.
“But lose by 1-0 and lose by that score and it is the same points difference. You always have to look at positives. However, you don’t want to lose by that scoreline at any time.”
