Darren Fletcher praises Sesko after Manchester United’s draw with Burnley.

Darren Fletcher, who took over as interim manager of Manchester United, saw his debut in charge of the Red Devils turn into a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in an exciting 2-2 draw against Burnley, a team battling to escape the relegation zone. The match, held at Turf Moor, proved to be a test of resilience and strategy for Fletcher, who found himself on the bench following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

The game got off to a disastrous start for United, with an own goal from Ayden Heaven putting the home side ahead. However, the response came quickly — Benjamin Sesko, one of the promising attackers, equalized and then put Manchester United in front. The joy, however, was short-lived, as Burnley managed to level again through a goal from Jaidon Anthony, who came on as a substitute and secured a valuable point for the hosts.

Fletcher expressed his frustration after the final whistle: “I’m a bit disappointed that we didn’t win the game. We did more than enough in terms of chances, shots, and clearances off the line. I’m not sure why Martinez’s goal was disallowed. If we look at the game in the context of what we did to win, it’s disappointing.” He added: “When we got to 2-1, we wanted to make sure we won and score another goal. To be fair to Burnley, it was a good shot. But to concede and not find a goal to win 3-2 is disappointing. The effort and application were there. I’m pleased with their performance, but I know they have more to give.”

Fletcher also analyzed the goals conceded: “You can always do more. Whenever a team scores against you, you can do more. We will reflect on that and learn.” When asked about his team’s performance, he highlighted the good movement and creation of opportunities, but also acknowledged that the team was fatigued due to the short time between matches.

One of the standout moments of the night was undoubtedly the performance of Benjamin Sesko, who scored two crucial goals. Fletcher did not hold back in praising the young forward: “I was so happy for him. I spoke with him yesterday and we showed him a video highlighting his movement and goals, to show him that it’s coming, and he needs to keep believing. The team needs to provide him with more service, and he did that tonight by scoring two great goals. A really positive night for Ben.”

Taking charge of the team was a significant experience for Fletcher. “It was an amazing experience. I’m disappointed that we didn’t win, I can’t hide that, but in terms of leading the team, preparing the players, interacting with the fans, all of that was a pleasure, an honor.”

Fletcher’s immediate future is already mapped out. “I spoke with the management and I will be in charge for the game against Brighton [in the FA Cup] and we will go from there. I have been around the first team for years before this. I’m just focused on the work ahead of me, on the next game.”

With the challenge of leading one of the biggest teams in the world ahead of him, Fletcher is ready to continue his journey and, who knows, lead Manchester United to new achievements.