Manchester United endured a 3-0 defeat to Burnley in a friendly match at their Carrington training ground on Wednesday, with no fans or media in attendance.
Manchester United suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Burnley in a match played behind closed doors today at Carrington. The game showcased players such as Evans, Hannibal, Fernandez, McTominay, Martial, Van de Beek, and Pellistri. [via @UtdPlug] #MUFC pic.twitter.com/YbBo6b1SjO
— RedMancunian (@RedMancunian) August 23, 2023
United’s starting lineup was believed to include Jonny Evans, Hannibal Mejbri, Alvaro Fernandez, Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Donny van de Beek, and Facundo Pellistri.
The encounter was treated as a training exercise, with both sides seemingly keen to keep their tactical thinking under wraps ahead of forthcoming Premier League fixtures.
The loss won’t ease the pressure on Erik ten Hag’s side, following a slow start to their 2023/24 campaign. A disappointing defeat at Tottenham and an unconvincing narrow win over Wolves already had fans on edge.
These concerns are further compounded by Burnley’s own form, having themselves lost 3-0 to Manchester City in their only Premier League match so far. United’s fans will likely view the result of this friendly with increasing worry.
Although United’s tally of three points from their opening two Premier League matches isn’t a disaster, and indeed marks an improvement on last season’s start, dissatisfaction is growing at the club. The failure to hold a lead against Tottenham in a concerning second half is adding to the frustration.
Off-field issues are also prevalent, with the uncertainty surrounding a potential takeover of the club continuing. The Glazer family remains in charge of United, with no clear indications of progress in the sale process that began nine months ago. This uncertainty has seemingly clouded United’s activity in the transfer market.
New signings Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Rasmus Hojlund have been welcomed, but there is a growing sentiment that the squad still lacks key players. Questions hang over several squad members, including Harry Maguire, Donny van de Beek, Anthony Martial, and Scott McTominay, whose futures at the club remain uncertain.
This defeat to Burnley marks United’s second behind-closed-doors friendly at Carrington, following a 2-0 victory over Everton last Tuesday. On that occasion, an own goal and a strike from McTominay ensured a win for Manchester United, but the latest result will do little to lift the mood at a club experiencing a challenging period.
