Manchester United got their first win of the season on the board against Burnley, which was made needlessly difficult, until one player stepped up.
The 3-2 win against Burnley, courtesy of a last-minute Bruno Fernandes penalty, had no right to be as difficult as it ended up being.
Man Utd missed a boatload of chances and missed the trait that every team needs to become top-class: composure.
That was, until one player brought calmness and control as soon as he stepped onto the pitch in a sparkling cameo.
Noussair Mazraoui of Manchester United arrives ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Burnley at Old Trafford on August 30, 2025
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Man Utd calmed by Noussair Mazraoui
There’s a reason why Ruben Amorim, notoriously difficult to impress, once called Noussair Mazraoui as the “future of Man Utd”.
His versatility, combined with technical excellence, makes him the perfect player in a team that is full of hotheads and passionate players.
Playing with your heart on your sleeve is an appreciable trait, but the circumstances often demand calmness and control.
Noussair Mazraoui had missed the whole season so far through injury until he came off the bench in the 85th minute for his first minutes of the season.
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United were going gung-ho at the time, having conceded an equaliser again and staring down the barrel of dropping more points.
The Moroccan came on as the right-sided centre-back, and his trademark composure on the ball instantly brought structure and control to the game.
Suddenly, United started funneling their attacks down their right, with Mazraoui progressing the ball with pristine accuracy, pushing Burnley back in a coherent manner.
The winner came via a penalty, which was won after some brilliant work down that side by Mazraoui, Amad, Mbeumo, and Fernandes.
With the wing-back positions fixed for now and needing more dynamism than control, the wide centre-back role seems to suit Mazraoui’s skill set perfectly.
Mazraoui will quickly regain undroppable status
Ruben Amorim was fortunate that, despite Mazraoui missing the entirety of the season till this point, his absence was not keenly felt.
Leny Yoro took a leap forwards in his absence, while Matthijs de Ligt put in commanding performances as the central centre-back.
However, even though Mazraoui’s absence wasn’t felt, his presence was, and that speaks volumes about the unique skill set he brings to the table.
His history of playing as a full-back, but with more defensive-mindedness, makes him a natural upgrade over Diogo Dalot.
Luke Shaw can now rest, with Yoro playing on that side, making way for Mazraoui to play as the RCB.
United defenders are mostly dynamic or physical freaks, but Mazraoui is the true definition of a “Rolls-Royce” defender, who is not the most physically imposing, but is a smooth operator.
That injection of pure brains into an athletic team provides important balance that will see him regain his undroppable status soon.