Man Utd drew 2-2 with Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday and here are the talking points and moments you might have missed.
Benjamin Sesko scored twice at Burnley
Manchester United drew 2-2 with Burnley in the Premier League on Wednesday. Burnley drew first blood at Turf Moor, taking the lead thanks to a deflected strike which was marked as an own-goal from Ayden Heaven.
Darren Fletcher did not look pleased, but United came out swinging at the start of the second half, and Benjamin Sesko scored twice in relatively quick succession to make it 2-1. However, Burnley drew level thanks to a great strike from Jaidon Anthony, which ensured the points were shared.
Here are the talking points and moments you might have missed from the game:
The anti-Ratcliffe banner
A banner reading ‘Jim can’t fix this’ was unfurled before the game, implying Sir Jim Ratcliffe doesn’t have what it takes to turn the club around. The banner was in response to a tumultuous week, which saw Ruben Amorim sacked, Fletcher hired as interim boss, and talks opened with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over a possible return.
Ratcliffe bemoaned the mistakes of the previous regime when he took control of football operations at Old Trafford, but the Ineos team have created a mess themselves. Omar Berrada oversaw the appointment of Amorim, a coach wedded to playing with five at the back, and Jason Wilcox interfered with the team’s tactics, which is a red flag from a director of football.
United sources insisted there had been no power struggle when Amorim’s sacking was confirmed, but it was impossible to pull the wool over fans’ eyes following his final press conference. Berrada and Wilcox were at Turf Moor and they were both spotted shaking their heads when Burnley opened the scoring. United fans have been shaking their heads at the pair in the last few days.
Thumbs up for Sesko
Sesko was unfortunate not to score in the first half when he sent an outstanding header goal-bound from the edge of the box. The header had to be perfect to have a chance of going in from that distance – and Sesko was just denied by a beautiful save from former United loanee Martin Dubravka.
The Slovenia international looked in the mood from the first whistle, a stark contrast to last weekend against Leeds, and he received a big thumbs up from Fletcher when he equalised – the interim boss clearly knows how crucial Sesko could be in United’s push for a European spot. Sesko’s second goal was even better. The cross into the box was wonderful, but he still had plenty to do and finished with the kind of ruthlessness that fans doubted he had in his locker.
Patrick Dorgu was responsible for the assist and sprinted to Sesko, who had a huge smile on his face as his teammates celebrated with him. Just last week, Sesko’s teammates had their hands on their heads as he sent a potential match-winner wide of the post in the final 20 minutes against Leeds.
Sesko scored as many Premier League goals against Burnley as he’d managed in his first four months in Manchester. Everyone is hoping Sesko’s brace in Lancashire signals the beginning of a purple patch.
Huge cheer for Lacey
There was a huge cheer from the away section when Fletcher introduced Shea Lacey for Manuel Ugarte for the final seven minutes of the game. Amorim frustrated fans by regularly bringing on centre-backs in the closing stages of matches, so it was refreshing to see an attacking substitution instead.
Amorim handed Lacey his debut at Villa Park last month. The 18-year-old’s first appearance could have come sooner, though, as he’d been knocking on the door for months before his senior bow.
Lacey showed what he can do when smacking the crossbar from the edge of the box just minutes after coming on at Turf Moor. The attacking change from Fletcher was inches away from being a masterstroke.
Fletcher’s classy arrival
Fletcher arrived at Turf Moor dressed in a Paul Smith club suit, continuing the trend of former United players-turned caretaker managers wearing a suit and tie on the touchline. The outfit choice comes from playing under Sir Alex Ferguson, who believed United representatives should dress smartly.
The 41-year-old asked Ferguson for his ‘blessing’ to manage United against Burnley, and he carried himself with class at the pre-match press conference, shaking the hands of journalists. Fletcher should have his head held high if Burnley is the only league game he oversees as interim boss. He behaved like a United manager should before and after the clash at Turf Moor – which counts for something.
Solskjaer and Carrick chants
It took just eight minutes for the away section to begin a rendition of ‘you are my Solskjaer, my Ole Solskjaer’, which felt like a seal of approval for the Norwegian’s increasingly likely return. Solskjaer left on good terms in 2021, despite being booed after his final game in charge against Watford, and the club’s press release announcing his sacking said: “He will forever be welcome back.”
The 52-year-old will always be popular among fans due to his playing career, but some supporters have mixed feelings about a possible return. Those reservations are merited. The end of Solskjaer’s tenure should not be forgotten, although there were positives from his stint.
Carrick was part of Solskjaer’s backroom staff, and he is also in contention for the job. The away fans gave Carrick their approval by signing: “He’s Carrick, you know, you’ll never believe he’s not Scholes.”
It remains to be seen who will be given the interim job for the remainder of the season.