Darren Fletcher’s first match as interim head coach saw Manchester United share the points with Burnley at Turf Moor.
Benjamin Sesko was the star of the show for Manchester United but his two second-half goals were not enough to pick up all three points for Darren Fletcher on his first outing as head coach.
Who was your Man Utd MOTM vs Burnley?
The hosts took the lead through Ayden Heaven’s unfortunate own goal in the first half and then drew level through Jaidon Anthony’s curling effort after the break.
United have only lost once in their past nine games and have now dropped to seventh in the Premier League table.
Darren Fletcher’s formation
Ruben Amorim’s reliance on his 3-4-3 formation was heavily criticised from the very beginning of his tenure until the end, and Darren Fletcher changed back to a 4-2-3-1 in his first match.
Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot returned to full-back roles, with Ayden Heaven and Lisandro Martinez chosen as the centre-back pairing.
United fans had a brief idea of Fletcher’s style of play, and his first match in charge confirmed that he plans on going back to a more traditional system.
Traditional wingers
Not only did Fletcher revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation, but he also switched the sides that Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu were playing on.
Cunha has played his best football coming in off the left flank, but he was moved out to the right by Fletcher. The same with Dorgu, a left-footed player, pushed out to the left.
Manchester United’s confirmed line-up to take on Burnley
What do you make of Darren Fletcher's first Manchester United team?🤔
Perhaps the idea was to supply more crosses into Sesko, but it was a decision that seemed to limit United’s attacking threat.
Benjamin Sesko silences his critics
Sesko had gone nine games without a goal, but he refused to give up at Turf Moor and eventually got his reward.
For his first goal, Sesko was found by a clever Fernandes pass, and his second was a neat finish from Dorgu’s cross.
The Slovenian has doubled his Premier League goal tally to four goals in the 2025/26 campaign and his seven shots on target is the most by any player in one match this season.
Bruno Fernandes returns with a bang
Before his departure, Amorim said that Fernandes was doing everything possible behind the scenes to make a quick return, and he was back in the starting line-up to face Burnley.
The Portuguese playmaker returned to his favoured No.10 role in Fletcher’s formation, and he showed United what they have been missing during his three-game absence.
Fernandes added another assist to his tally after setting up Sesko, before being taken off as a precaution on the hour mark.
Shea Lacey looks like a star
Fletcher showed faith in Shea Lacey towards the end of the match, bringing him on for just his second Premier League appearance.
With his first touches, Lacey took the ball and drove inside from the right wing before firing a curling left-footed effort that rattled the crossbar.
The 18-year-old has a bright future and he showed exactly why with his short cameo at Turf Moor.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/vOADhPX