Manchester United's players weren’t the only ones in the pink at Turf Moor. This was a very good day for Jose Mourinho after what has been a wretched summer for him.
A convincing win over a surprisingly compliant Burnley side will ease talk of a crisis around Old Trafford going into the international break and give Mourinho valuable breathing space.
The protest banner flown over Burnley’s home ground before kick-off targeted United chief Ed Woodward as ‘a specialist in failure’ – to borrow Mourinho’s famous quote about Arsene Wenger – and not the Portuguese coach himself.
It was the clearest indication yet that some supporters at least appreciate that Mourinho has not received the full backing of his board in the transfer market this summer.
Mourinho’s players, some of whom are known to be less than enamoured with him at the moment, then produced a solid display to ensure that United’s joint worst start to a Premier League campaign since 1992 did not continue.
Yes, Marcus Rashford’s red card and Paul Pogba’s penalty miss soured the occasion but, overall, this was much more like it.
The challenge for him now, however, is to build on this result when United face Watford on September 15. To prove that this is more than just temporary respite from his early season problems. Most of all, to show that there is a clear plan going forward.
Mourinho used no fewer than 22 players in the opening three games of the season, comfortably more than any other top-flight club. After the 3-2 defeat at Brighton, six changes were made for the 3-0 setback at home to Tottenham and then another three here.
Anthony Martial and Eric Bailly, left out completely against Spurs, reappeared on the bench at Turf Moor. Victor Lindelof, who was dropped for that game and looked a very shaky substitute when he did come on, was reinstated here due to Phil Jones’s hamstring injury.
It his hardly evidence of joined-up thinking on the part of Mourinho who admitted on Friday that he doesn’t know his best centre-back pairing from the five defenders available to him after more than two years in the job.
Midfield doesn’t appear that much clearer either. New signing Fred, who gave his best display yet against Spurs, was left on the bench to accommodate Marouane Fellaini. Ander Herrera, surprisingly deployed at centre-back on Monday night, joined the Brazilian on the bench.
At least Romelu Lukaku remains an automatic choice in attack and the Belgian came up with two goals to give United a much-needed lift.
No-one should criticise Mourinho for selecting a team tailored to each individual game. It is part of his job as a manager. No doubt he would argue that the Herrera switch was designed specifically for Tottenham, while Fellaini’s height and greater presence were required against Burnley.
But the sheer number of changes after such a turbulent summer hinted at confusion and some players – notably Martial and Bailly – must be wondering where they stand now.
United fans can only hope that Mourinho is closer to knowing his best team after this win.
Lindelof performed well even though it became clear from the start that Burnley were targeting the struggling Swede with long balls and asking Chris Wood to put pressure on him.
Fellaini may not be everyone’s cup of tea but he is a formidable opponent and demonstrated as much again here.
Jesse Lingard looked lively against a rather pedestrian Burnley side and could have scored three times in the opening nine minutes.
Luke Shaw continues to grow in confidence and Lukaku will be delighted to claim a couple of goals, even though he should have had a hat-trick before the end.
Pogba was equally guilty of not adding to United’s lead from the penalty spot after Rashford had been fouled before the youngster was sent off for thrusting his head into Phil Bardsley’s face.
But it shouldn’t detract from a good day for Mourinho. Now he has to make sure there are more like it.
