Darren Fletcher’s tenure as Manchester United interim manager began with a 2-2 draw at Burnley, characterized by a return to a 4-2-3-1 system and a standout two-goal performance from Benjamin Sesko.
Manchester United’s post-Ruben Amorim era began with a familiar 2-2 draw against 19th-placed Burnley at Turf Moor.
Despite dropping points from a winning position, the performance under interim head coach Darren Fletcher signaled a shift in identity.
United dominated with 30 shots and hit the woodwork twice, but old frailties remained as they conceded an equalizer from Burnley’s only shot on target, leaving the club seventh in the table.
Fletcher discarded the previous tactical setup in favor of a traditional 4-2-3-1 formation, returning players to their natural positions.
This structural change revitalized £73.6 million striker Benjamin Sesko, who netted a clinical brace to end a goal drought dating back to October.
Fletcher credited a tactical briefing for the breakthrough, stating: “I showed him some videos of his movement and how the opportunities are going to come, to just keep believing.”
The match also featured the return of Bruno Fernandes and a sparkling cameo from 18-year-old Shea Lacey, who nearly scored a late winner.
Fletcher praised the teenager’s fearlessness, noting he told the debutant to “stay wide, go and do what you do.”
While the result mirrored the frustrations of the Amorim tenure—United have now drawn against the Premier League’s bottom seven since November—the proactive substitutions and attacking intent offered a sense of a fresh start.
With United passing up the chance to move into fourth place, the club’s hierarchy, including Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, watched from the stands as the “interim” era took its first steps.
Although the defensive lapses that have plagued their season persisted, the night was defined by a palpable willingness to move past recent turmoil.
As the search for a permanent successor continues, Fletcher’s immediate impact on individual confidence and tactical simplicity has provided a temporary blueprint for stability.