#mufc 1-0 Burnley — match analysis

📄 @cainsmithMU

A THREAD:
The hard-fought win against Burnley yesterday took United to the top of the table. This thread will analyse three key aspects of the game:

• Build-up and offensive play
• Impressive in duels
• Pogba's influence on the match
Build-up and offensive play —

With Matic starting, United used a back three in the build-up to have numerical superiority in the first phase against Burnley's front two.

United then looked to play the ball into wide areas and then move the ball centrally, between the lines.
We can see in the images below that Matic would drop into the backline, usually on the left, this allowed United to utilise the half-spaces and then United would look to progress into wider areas - at times Pogba would leave the centre to receive the ball in the half-spaces too.
We can see in the images below that Matic would drop into the backline, usually on the left, this allowed United to utilise the half-spaces and then United would look to progress into wider areas - at times Pogba would leave the centre to receive the ball in the half-spaces too.
We can see in the images below that Matic would drop into the backline, usually on the left, this allowed United to utilise the half-spaces and then United would look to progress into wider areas - at times Pogba would leave the centre to receive the ball in the half-spaces too.
We can see in the images below that Matic would drop into the backline, usually on the left, this allowed United to utilise the half-spaces and then United would look to progress into wider areas - at times Pogba would leave the centre to receive the ball in the half-spaces too.
We can see in the images below that Matic would drop into the backline, usually on the left, this allowed United to utilise the half-spaces and then United would look to progress into wider areas - at times Pogba would leave the centre to receive the ball in the half-spaces too.
This usage of wide areas and the half-spaces was done in order to stretch the Burnley block and then United looked to find passes into players between the lines.

This is shown in the images below.
This usage of wide areas and the half-spaces was done in order to stretch the Burnley block and then United looked to find passes into players between the lines. This is shown in the images below.
This usage of wide areas and the half-spaces was done in order to stretch the Burnley block and then United looked to find passes into players between the lines. This is shown in the images below.
United also got the ball into wider areas in the final third to cross the ball. They attempted 21 crosses in the match and completed 5 of those – 1 being Rashford’s assist for Pogba. [ @StatsZone]
Rashford attempted 4 crosses apart from his assist and none were successful, he was successful in taking men on – completing 4/6 take-ons - but lacked in his final product on the wing for most of the game. [ @StatsZone]

Yet, when he looked up and picked a man out, United scored.
Rashford attempted 4 crosses apart from his assist and none were successful, he was successful in taking men on – completing 4/6 take-ons - but lacked in his final product on the wing for most of the game. [ @StatsZone]Yet, when he looked up and picked a man out, United scored.
Rashford attempted 4 crosses apart from his assist and none were successful, he was successful in taking men on – completing 4/6 take-ons - but lacked in his final product on the wing for most of the game. [ @StatsZone]Yet, when he looked up and picked a man out, United scored.
Rashford attempted 4 crosses apart from his assist and none were successful, he was successful in taking men on – completing 4/6 take-ons - but lacked in his final product on the wing for most of the game. [ @StatsZone]Yet, when he looked up and picked a man out, United scored.
Rashford attempted 4 crosses apart from his assist and none were successful, he was successful in taking men on – completing 4/6 take-ons - but lacked in his final product on the wing for most of the game. [ @StatsZone]Yet, when he looked up and picked a man out, United scored.
Impressive in duels —

Against a strong and physical Burnley side, United were going to need to be strong in their duels and that is exactly what they were.

The United side completed 12 tackles, 10 interceptions and won 19 of their 28 aerial duels. [ @StatsZone]
By winning most of their duels, United could sustain pressure throughout and have limited open-play threat against them.

Pogba and Matic completed 3 tackles, 4 interceptions and won 5 aerial duels through the match – they won a lot of their duels in the middle third.
Winning these duels in the middle third also allowed United to attack against an unsettled Burnley defensive set-up. There are two clear examples of this below, with the second ending in the goal.
Winning these duels in the middle third also allowed United to attack against an unsettled Burnley defensive set-up. There are two clear examples of this below, with the second ending in the goal.
Winning these duels in the middle third also allowed United to attack against an unsettled Burnley defensive set-up. There are two clear examples of this below, with the second ending in the goal.
Winning these duels in the middle third also allowed United to attack against an unsettled Burnley defensive set-up. There are two clear examples of this below, with the second ending in the goal.
Winning these duels in the middle third also allowed United to attack against an unsettled Burnley defensive set-up. There are two clear examples of this below, with the second ending in the goal.
Pogba’s influence on the match —

The Frenchman scored the goal but was also immense throughout the entire game. In the second half especially, his quality helped United to sustain pressure on Burnley and probe for the goal which they eventually got.
In the examples shown, Pogba’s carries and passing were vital in moving into the final third and creating.

Mixed with his solid defensive performance and it was one of the most consistent performances we’ve seen from the Frenchman in a while from the first minute to the last.
In the examples shown, Pogba’s carries and passing were vital in moving into the final third and creating. Mixed with his solid defensive performance and it was one of the most consistent performances we’ve seen from the Frenchman in a while from the first minute to the last.
In the examples shown, Pogba’s carries and passing were vital in moving into the final third and creating. Mixed with his solid defensive performance and it was one of the most consistent performances we’ve seen from the Frenchman in a while from the first minute to the last.
In the examples shown, Pogba’s carries and passing were vital in moving into the final third and creating. Mixed with his solid defensive performance and it was one of the most consistent performances we’ve seen from the Frenchman in a while from the first minute to the last.
In the examples shown, Pogba’s carries and passing were vital in moving into the final third and creating. Mixed with his solid defensive performance and it was one of the most consistent performances we’ve seen from the Frenchman in a while from the first minute to the last.
Overall, this was a good performance by United against a Burnley side which was always going to be difficult to beat.

After the VAR controversy in the first half, the performance in the second half helped show the mentality of the squad.

Thanks for reading.
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