Michael Owen was deeply critical of Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko during Leeds United’s superb first-half impact against Manchester United.
Manchester United were on the back foot against Leeds United on Monday evening after the significant influence of Noah Okafor in the first half at Old Trafford.
Leeds broke the deadlock against United in the fifth minute of the Premier League match after Noah Okafor fired a stunning finish home from Jayden Bogle’s cross.
However, Michael Owen felt that Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Amad Diallo should have played a more meaningful role in denying Leeds’ second of the night.
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Bruno Fernandes reacts during the Premier League match between Bournemouth and Manchester United at the Vitality Stadium in 2026 in Bournemouth, England.
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Michael Owen puts Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko on blast in Man Utd’s 2-1 defeat to Leeds United
Noah Okafor beat Senne Lammens for the second time in the first half after he expertly converted a volley into the bottom corner of the Manchester United net.
The strike took a deflection off Leny Yoro after the Red Devils scrambled to clear the ball away amid Leeds maintaining their attacking pressure on United.
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Okafor converted from outside of the Man Utd box and Michael Owen felt that multiple Red Devils players could have done better to deny Leeds’ effort.
Former Man Utd and Liverpool striker Owen turned his focus to Bruno Fernandes, Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko as key culprits during the Premier League match.
“There are only seven Man Utd players who can [affect] things,” he said, as per the Premier League’s official website.
“Sesko needs to come back in, Amad half-heartedly enters the picture but does nothing, and Fernandes is still lying down.
“That is three players who are irrelevant to the team. You can’t be defending with just seven players. Every time they clear it out [of] the box, Leeds just put it back in.”
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Michael Owen’s telling verdict after Leeds United stunned Man Utd in the Premier League at Old Trafford
Leeds secured important Premier League points amid their relegation battle, while Man Utd suffered a setback in their push for a top-four finish this season.
Owen feels that Leeds defied all expectations after the solid performance they put on against United in Monday’s Premier League encounter at Old Trafford.
“Man Utd are hard to beat nowadays,” he admitted.
“This is a big result for Leeds. Probably the one they didn’t budget on. If they could have squeezed a point out of this, then they would have snapped your hand off before the game… to get three is very nearly job done for them.”
United were reduced to 10 men in the second half after Lisandro Martinez was sent off, while Fernandes picked up an assist for Casemiro’s headed effort on the night.
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