Manchester United escaped double embarrassment this week thanks to Bruno Fernandes’ late penalty against Burnley.
United saw their lead slip away twice against their newly promoted rivals, until Bruno Fernandes clinched the match with a last-minute penalty, following their embarrassing Carabao Cup loss to League Two’s Grimsby Town.
The 3-2 victory marked Amorim’s team’s first win of the season, elevating them momentarily into the upper half of the table before the international break.
Mainoo twist?
Mainoo is determined to secure a loan move before the transfer window closes tomorrow, frustrated at being Fernandes’ backup. He desires regular playing time to reclaim his spot in the England squad ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
But when Cunha and Mount went off, Amorim’s reshuffle saw Fernandes at No 10 and Mainoo replace the captain in midfield.
Manchester United earned a 3-2 win vs Burnley after Bruno Fernandes’ last-minute penalty
Despite asking to leave on loan, Kobbie Mainoo may play more of a key role for United after Matheus Cunha’s injury
It was premature for Amorim to provide injury news, but Cunha’s ailment appeared to be a hamstring issue, and he retreated to the locker room without receiving any treatment.
If United’s pricey summer addition faces a lengthy recovery, Mainoo might play a bigger role than anticipated. His defensive efforts were crucial in the final moments of the match, helping to prevent Burnley from scoring with the score tied at 2-2.
Restless Ruben
After expressing his frustrations over United’s unexpected Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby earlier in the week, Ruben Amorim limited his program notes for Saturday’s match to a brief 95 words, once more apologizing to the fans.
The embattled United boss had cut a more laid-back figure at Carrington on Friday, yet was anything but relaxed as kick-off loomed at Old Trafford.
Amorim paced back and forth across his technical area no fewer than 17 times in the moments before the start and, after hiding in the dug-out during Wednesday’s shootout, could barely watch again when Bruno Fernandes converted an injury-time penalty to seal the three points.
At the end of only his eighth win in 30 Premier League games — four of which have come against newly promoted teams — a relieved Amorim shook hands with Burnley boss Scott Parker and hugged Joshua Zirkzee before heading down the tunnel.
Ruben Amorim’s body language during the game was that of a stressed out man once again
Sesko setback
It was surprising to see Benjamin Sesko as the last outfield player to take a penalty in the shootout defeat at Grimsby, and the new £74m striker didn’t cover himself in glory on Saturday, either, missing two chances in quick succession to grab a winner after replacing Casemiro.
When Bryan Mbeumo delivered from the right, Sesko rose above Kyle Walker and hung in the air poised to score. Was Mbeumo’s cross an inch too high or did Sesko jump a second too early? Either way, he couldn’t prevent his header flying over from close range.
Then, when Diogo Dalot crossed from the left, Sesko got away from his marker to meet it but his glancing header was well wide.
Amorim defended the striker, saying the cramp Sesko suffered at Grimsby was the reason he didn’t take a penalty sooner and why he was back on the bench on Saturday.
Benjamin Sesko missed two chances against Burnley, days after he was the last outfield player to take a penalty in the shootout defeat at Grimsby
Burnley boss Scott Parker lamented VAR after United benefited from a late penalty decision
‘It’s connected,’ said the United boss. ‘He finished the game with cramps, really in the limit. That’s why we protected Ben from the penalties. And today was that reason also.’
Parker’s pain
VAR denied United a penalty in the first half after referee Sam Barrott pointed to the spot for Walker’s challenge on Mount, then sent him to the monitor again deep into added time when Jaidon Anthony was penalised for ‘sustained pulling’ of Amad Diallo’s shirt, enabling Fernandes to score the winner from the spot.
Parker wasn’t the only person inside Old Trafford left wondering where football is heading in a new VAR world.
‘That’s the way the game has gone,’ said the 44-year-old.
‘It’s going to become the most sterile game there is really. We’re probably months or a year away from not celebrating goals. I stand on the touchline, you score the goal, and I feel like there’s a million things that go through your mind.
‘Checklists, what happened three minutes before it. Was it offside? Did he stand on his toe two minutes before? He needs to get his computer out to check where it is offside.
‘Linesmen and referees are slowly becoming redundant. We live in a world of perfection, and everyone wants perfection. I’m absolutely frustrated now, but when you do look back, there’s a lot of positivity.’
