I understand you mentioned wanting to manage Bruno’s playing time, but was there any possibility he could have completed the entire match? His absence was felt, especially since Burnley managed to score shortly after he left the field…
“It was part of our plan for the game. We talked it over, and while 45 minutes was discussed, we ultimately agreed that even 60 minutes might be pushing it. I would prefer not to take Bruno Fernandes off during such a match, but the pre-established plan—agreed upon by the club, the medical staff, coaches, and Bruno himself—accounted for his prior injury. We must recognize that it’s a long season. It’s disappointing, but it was the agreed-upon strategy from the start, and we knew this would happen.”
There has been much discussion about United needing to take more risks. With 30 shots and 10 on target, how much of that approach was part of your pre-match instructions to the team?
“Absolutely, our focus was on being proactive, encouraging them to attack, to take the initiative and demonstrate their potential as individuals and as a team. We wanted them to be dynamic, exciting, and assertive. Those were the expectations we set, and they rose to the challenge. While it wasn’t flawless, many positives emerged from the game. Reflecting on the match, aside from the initial moments and after we took a 2-1 lead, we largely dominated play and created numerous chances. We’ll likely feel some disappointment at not scoring more because when you generate that many opportunities, you need to convert more into goals.”
What advice did you offer to Shea Lacey before he entered the game, and how impressed were you with his performance?
“I told Shea to maintain his width and to simply be himself. He did exactly that, effectively staying wide on the right. I knew he could make an impact because he’s a creative player with a knack for scoring. He’s exciting, direct, and fearless. He hit the crossbar, took another shot, and overall had a very promising game. I’m happy for him—he’s faced many injuries in recent years that have hindered his progress, but we recognize his talent, and I have no doubt he will play a significant role in Manchester United’s future.”
