Manchester United interim boss Darren Fletcher explains immediate formation change against Burnley after Ruben Amorim exit
Manchester United interim boss Darren Fletcher explained why he immediately veered away from Ruben Amorim’s preferred formation in his first game in charge away to Burnley in the Premier League. The Scot opted to employ a traditional back four at Turf Moor, with the game ending 2-2 as United once again missed the chance to move into the top four despite Benjamin Sesko finding the net twice.
Darren Fletcher explained why he opted for a back four as his Manchester United side drew 2-2 with Burnley on Wednesday, the first match since the club sacked Ruben Amorim.
Amorim famously favoured a 3-4-2-1 system and tried to implement that philosophy at Old Trafford. The Portuguese head coach did opt for a back four on occasion – including in the 1-0 Boxing Day win against Newcastle United – but his default was always to revert to his preferred formation.
Fletcher was placed in interim charge following Amorim’s departure and wasted little time in altering the formation to a more conventional back four against Burnley.
Asked why he made the alteration, Fletcher told the BBC: “I feel like it is what I have always played in my career, it is what I am comfortable with, and what I use with the Under-18s.
“It’s synonymous with Manchester United and I felt like it suited the players tonight for this game at Burnley.
“It was the right call when you look at the game in terms of the chances created. The challenge is that when the players are used to a back five, adapting to a back four is going to be difficult, you have to cover more and you could see the challenges in that and it is something we will try to work on.”
While there was a new man in the dugout, there was a familiarity to United’s performance.
More than enough chances were created by United to comfortably win the game, but profligacy in front of goal and defensive errors meant another chance went begging to move into the top four.
So, while it might have been an honour for Fletcher to lead United from the dugout, the former United midfielder said the overriding emotion after the match was one of “disappointment”.
“For me the fact we have drawn is a massive disappointment,” Fletcher said. “If you look at the context of the game, the chances we created, goal-line clearances, a disallowed goal, 30 shots, lots of attacking play.
“We created more than enough to win the game, so obviously it is disappointing when you only come away with a point.”
One of the big positives for Fletcher and United was the output of Benjamin Sesko.
The summer signing has struggled to adjust to life in the Premier League but found the net twice in the second half at Turf Moor with two sublime finishes to put United 2-1 ahead before Jaidon Anthony equalised to ensure the spoils were shared.
And Fletcher will have a chance to build on the display at Burnley, confirming he will remain in post for the FA Cup encounter at home to Brighton on Sunday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
“I’ll be in charge at the weekend for Brighton, that is the next step as far as I know,” he added. “When the club ask me to do something I am more than willing to help so it will be a great honour leading the team out at Old Trafford.
“All the focus is on that, recovering from this game and preparing for Brighton.”
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