Burnley
Fletcher confirms Fernandes fit for Burnley as he steps in as interim manager
Fletcher confirms Bruno Fernandes fit for Burnley and calls interim charge ‘an amazing honour’ today
Darren Fletcher has confirmed Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is fit to face Burnley on Wednesday night and has described his temporary appointment as a coach as a considerable honour.
Fletcher said: “It is an amazing honour to lead a Manchester United team especially as it was not in my wildest dreams that would be something which could potentially happen.” He acknowledged the awkwardness of the circumstances: “To lead out the team is an amazing honour and something I am really proud to do but not in the circumstances I expected it to, so that is something which doesn’t sit quite easy with me.” He added: “But I’ve just got to think I have a job to do and I just have to lead the team tomorrow [against Burnley] and think of the great honour and pride in doing that.”
Fletcher will be assisted by Travis Binnion, U21 assistant Alan Wright and former teammate Jonny Evans. He will be in charge for at least the Burnley match while United plan to have an interim manager in place until the end of the season, with a permanent hire expected in the summer.
BBC Sport reports Fletcher is among three club legends with whom “preliminary talks” have been held about taking the interim role until the end of the season. Former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Michael Carrick, who had three games as a caretaker in 2021, are the other two named.
Pressed on whether he would stay beyond one game, Fletcher remained focused on preparation. “Focus on this game and then speak after the game,” he said. “It all happened very quickly on Monday with a game to prepare and a quick turnaround, training session to organise, speak to the players. The focus is on the Burnley game as I think that we give the Burnley match the respect and focus it deserves to prepare the team in such a short space of time.”
On player availability he confirmed: “Mason [Mount] and Bruno were pushing to play against Leeds and the decision was that they weren’t quite ready. They have trained and they should be back in the squad.” He added: “They are on managed minutes and restricted minutes because they have only just returned to training so that is good news, especially because they are players who have been in good form. Mason Mount’s form has been fantastic and Bruno Fernandes … you don’t have to speak about him.”
Fernandes had been ruled out of Amorim’s final three games with a rare injury absence; United scored three times in those three fixtures compared with 10 in the previous three when he played. Fletcher said his immediate concentration is on the Burnley fixture and said discussions about a longer-term role would follow after the match. “Honestly it is not what I have thought about. Focusing on Burnley, that discussion is for after the game. It has all happened so quickly so all my concentration is on Burnley. I know it is a generic answer but it is what it is.”
Burnley
United Leave Turf Moor Frustrated After Šeško Double Is Cancelled Out
United dominated but drew 2-2 at Turf Moor after an Ayden Heaven own goal and Anthony reply. in vain
Manchester United left Turf Moor with a draw after a 2-2 result against Burnley, a game in which they dominated possession but failed to turn control into three points. The match swung wildly: an Ayden Heaven own goal put Burnley ahead at half-time, Benjamin Šeško struck twice after the interval to put United in front, and substitute Jaidon Anthony levelled to deny the visitors victory.
United began well and the away support were audible as they sang Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s name amid talk of a possible interim return. Early openings arrived but were not taken, and Burnley capitalised against the run of play when Bashir Humphries’ cross took a deflection off Heaven and looped over Senne Lammens.
After half-time Šeško changed the game. Fernandes slipped him in for an instinctive finish six minutes after the restart, and a second followed from Patrick Dorgu’s precise cross, Šeško guiding the volley into the net. United looked to have done enough, but Lisandro Martínez failed to close down Jaidon Anthony, who turned and fired the home side’s first shot on target into the corner.
Player contributions were mixed. Bruno Fernandes returned to the starting XI and set up the first Šeško goal before being substituted at 61 minutes. Patrick Dorgu impressed on the left, and Šeško converted two instinctive finishes to double his season tally. Ayden Heaven was unfortunate to be credited with the own goal and had a glaring chance to make amends later.
Substitutes included Mason Mount (61’), Leny Yoro (61’), Joshua Zirkzee (74’), Kobbie Mainoo (74’) and Shea Lacey (84’), with Lacey coming close to a late breakthrough. Unused subs were Altay Bayındır, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia and Jack Fletcher.
Key match statistics underlined United’s control: possession 68% to 32%, expected goals 0.85 to 0.06, total shots 12 to 2 and shots on target 6 to 0. In the end United will view this as two points lost after a performance that produced control but not the result.
Arsenal
Shortlists for November Premier League Player and Manager of the Month
Nominees for November’s Premier League Player and Manager awards, highlighting key performances. Stars
The Premier League shortlists for November have been published, highlighting individual runs that shaped the month.
Newcastle United winger Harvey Barnes closed November with three goals, two of which arrived in the win over Manchester City. Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall delivered a memorable strike against Manchester United, also scoring against Newcastle and providing an assist against Fulham. Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku produced one of the season’s most eye-catching individual displays as he demolished Liverpool and helped Pep Guardiola’s side remain competitive in the title race.
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes finished November with four assists, creating goals against Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace. Morgan Gibbs-White enjoyed a three-game scoring streak for Nottingham Forest, firing home against Man Utd, Leeds United and in the away victory at Liverpool.
Chelsea defender Reece James featured in all four of the Blues’ Premier League matches in November. His assist in the 1–1 draw with Arsenal capped off a truly stunning individual showing in a month which yielded a total of three clean sheets. Arsenal’s Declan Rice added attacking impetus with a goal against Burnley and an assist in the north London derby win over Tottenham Hotspur.
Brentford striker Igor Thiago continued his hot form, adding five goals across November with strikes against Newcastle, Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley among them.
Managers with strong cases included Mikel Arteta after Arsenal’s unbeaten month, which produced wins over Burnley and Tottenham as well as draws with Sunderland and Chelsea. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa won three of four and emerged as outside contenders in the title race. Pep Guardiola’s Man City scored a league-high 10 goals in November, including the victory over Liverpool. Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton & Hove Albion conceded once in four games, producing wins over Leeds, Brentford and Nottingham Forest. Chelsea went unbeaten under Enzo Maresca with three wins and a draw. Marco Silva’s Fulham recorded three wins over Wolves, Sunderland and Tottenham.
Recent monthly winners: Jack Grealish (Everton, August), Erling Haaland (Man City, September), Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd, October). Recent manager winners: Arne Slot (Liverpool, August), Oliver Glasner (Crystal Palace, September), Ruben Amorim (Man Utd, October).
Burnley
Chelsea Avoid Penalty After Hand Stop and VAR Silence
Referee waved play on after Robert Sánchez’s pass to Trevoh Chalobah, sparking VAR questions. Debate
Chelsea left Turf Moor without punishment after a stoppage-time incident that left Burnley staff and supporters asking for clarification. At a Chelsea goal kick goalkeeper Robert Sánchez played the ball to Trevoh Chalobah. Chalobah bent down and stopped the ball with his hand before quickly rolling a pass back to Sánchez and turning to face Burnley players who were appealing.
Referee Peter Bankes waved play on and the Premier League’s official match centre provided no explanation of any VAR intervention by Rob Jones. Burnley manager Scott Parker said the moment initially passed him by. “To be honest, at the time I didn’t even realise. I didn’t even notice, so the ref or anyone else was not in communication,” he shrugged, before adding, “But I have just seen it back and, I mean, it does look like a penalty.”
Parker expanded on his view of the sequence. “The ball’s live,” Parker insisted. “The keeper’s rolled it. You could tell by his next action that the ball’s live. So if you’re really looking at the detail of it, [Sánchez] spots the ball, he plays it to the centre half [Chalobah] and then makes another angle, the ball’s in play.
“But I’m not sitting here being critical, but I suppose that is why we’ve got VAR. But I don’t know whether it went to it, I don’t know whether they looked at it. It’s just one of those things.”
The sequence fits a pattern of similar contentious decisions over the last 18 months. Tyrone Mings was penalised for a comparable action in a Champions League tie against Club Brugge last season, a decision Unai Emery labelled “the biggest mistake I have witnessed in my career.” By contrast, Arsenal were not punished for a similar touch by Gabriel in their Champions League quarterfinal against Bayern Munich in April 2024; referee Glenn Nyberg called it “a kid’s mistake” while Thomas Tuchel raged against this “huge mistake.”
Chelsea’s defensive reshuffle also drew attention. Benoît Badiashile, introduced at halftime for Reece James, used his body to keep Maxime Estève off the pitch at a corner while holding the post. The ball was not yet in play so no foul could be given. Badiashile was booked, and Parker questioned the speed of the referee’s decision.
