Manchester United suffers 3-0 defeat to Burnley in behind-closed-doors friendly

Manchester United‘s quest for a strong start to the new season has taken another hit as they succumbed to a 3-0 loss against Burnley in a behind-closed-doors friendly match.

Despite substantial investments made during the summer transfer window, the Red Devils have struggled to find their rhythm, scraping a win against Wolves and enduring a loss to Tottenham.

Their season opener at Old Trafford against Wolves saw them narrowly securing a victory, with the visitors missing numerous chances, including a potential penalty.

A subsequent loss to Tottenham further highlighted the team’s struggles. Erik ten Hag’s tactical decisions, such as deploying Marcus Rashford as the lone striker and positioning Casemiro in midfield with Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes ahead, have faced criticism.

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In an attempt to improve match fitness among fringe players and those returning from injuries, Ten Hag organized a behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington.

Although the lineup featured mostly young players, familiar faces like Anthony Martial and Facundo Pellistri also made appearances, indicating potential involvement in upcoming matches against Nottingham Forest and beyond.

Martial, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury, led the attacking line, while Pellistri, introduced late against Spurs, gained valuable playing time.

With Mount sidelined due to injury, Scott McTominay or Christian Eriksen could potentially replace him in the starting lineup. McTominay, linked with a summer transfer, featured in midfield, while Eriksen trained with the first-team group.

Among the players who took part in the Burnley friendly were Jonny Evans, Hannibal Mejbri, Alvaro Fernandez, and Donny van de Beek. Despite the presence of a relatively strong lineup, Manchester United suffered a 3-0 defeat.

Burnley’s competitive team selection, led by Vincent Kompany, may have contributed to United’s challenge, as Burnley had not played over the weekend due to a postponed match against Luton Town.

This was the second behind-closed-doors friendly hosted by Manchester United since the start of the season. In their previous friendly against Everton, they fared better, securing a 2-0 victory through an own goal and a McTominay strike.

The team’s upcoming matches pose significant challenges. They face Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford and later have a crucial clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

These matches provide an opportunity for Manchester United to bounce back and make substantial improvements before the international break.