Phelan: We Did Not Do Enough

Assistant manager Mike Phelan insists United didn’t underestimate Burnley on Wednesday night. Instead, he says, the Reds simply didn’t do enough to win the game.

Phelan, who began his own playing career at Turf Moor, told BBC United knew full well what to expect from the visit to Lancashire.

“[Burnley beating Manchester United] will surprise some people but when you come to Turf Moor you’re never going to get an easy game. We expected them to come at us and put us on the back foot – we just didn’t handle it as well as we should have done.

“This is Burnley’s night and they’ve worked very hard to get to this position. We didn’t take them lightly and I don’t think anyone will now that they’ve beaten Manchester United on their own patch.”

The Reds’ best chance fell to Michael Carrick from the penalty spot just before half-time. But the midfielder saw his spot-kick saved by man-of-the-match Brian Jensen, prompting some to question if Carrick was the right man for the job.

“He was confident,” Phelan revealed. “He took the ball early – maybe there were a few others who wanted to take it – but he took the ball and had the courage to take it.

“Unfortunately he didn’t put it in the net, which probably would have settled us down a bit just before half-time. But it wasn’t to be…”