Looking at the Manchester United squad makes me want to cry. Only Jonny Evans could provide an assist.

Looking at the Manchester United squad makes me want to cry. Only Jonny Evans could provide an assist.

Grigory Telingater September 24, 2023, 00:43 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.

Burnley played well, but fell to last place.

Manchester United is going through a difficult time. Here we wrote in detail about the problems at the beginning of the season. However, despite all the difficulties, Ten Hag’s team beat Burnley. It doesn’t seem like a feat, but it was really difficult. And, perhaps, even contrary to how the game played out.

First of all, we must take into account the injury situation at Manchester United. Before the start of the season, it seemed like there was a core of four in defense: Wan-Bissaka, Martínez, Varane and Shaw. And now Dalo, Lindelöf, Evans and Reguilon (who was sick, according to the coach) came out. In midfield were McTominay and Mejbri, who made his Premier League debut. That is to say, half of Manchester United’s squad are essentially substitutes. Of the really main ones: Onana, Casemiro, Fernandes, Rashford and Hoylund. It is possible to argue about Dalo’s status as to which category he belongs to.

Hence the start of the match. Burnley completely outplayed the visitors in midfield. If during Sean Dyche’s time the team showed bus-busting football, then under Vincent Kompany the game is fundamentally different. Burnley had more time on the ball and created better opportunities. In the 10th minute, Onana made a great save. In the 17th minute, only the post saved Manchester United. At the same time, Burnley had the youngest team this season (average age: 24 years and 97 days), this taking into account the 20 Premier League clubs.

Vicente Company

Photo: Jon Hobley/Getty Images

However, the grandfather achieved the result by football standards. Evans, 35, started for Manchester United for the first time since 2015 and scored and then provided an assist in the first half. It is true that the defender’s goal after a corner kick was disallowed for offside, but the second goal was scored cleanly. It is significant that in the 45th minute it was Fernandes who scored.

This time the Portuguese did not come out through the center of the field, but from the right flank of the attack. Manchester United’s main attacking player faced the ball in an indecent manner. For example, in the first 40 minutes, Fernandes only had three accurate passes, the worst indicator among the 22 players at that time. However, at the end of the first half, the Portuguese needed a touch to volley the ball towards the goal.

Burnley – Manchester United – 0:1

Photo: Ash Donelon/Getty Images

In the second half, Manchester United came out with a convenient scenario, leading the score. The guests began to control the ball even less. Counterattacks with the fast Hoilunn seemed like a reasonable solution in such a situation. However, after the break there were fewer chances for both goals. And because Manchester United were in no hurry, and because Burnley had to look back at those same counterattacks. As a result, during the entire second half the home team shot on goal only once, despite having the initiative. It turned out that one goal was enough for Manchester United to win.

Burnley, despite a good game, fell to last place with one point after five games this season in the Premier League. Manchester United rose from 13th to 8th place. It is true that most clubs have not yet played this round.

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