Man Utd are losing their identity! Ugly win at Burnley underlined need for Erik ten Hag's side to be more ambitious and play on front foot

The name Burnley used to be a synonym for ugly football, an antidote to the usual glitz and glamour of the Premier League and a reminder that you can still get far with hard work and grit. But the tables were truly turned on Saturday as the Clarets played the most attractive football and United, who were always renowned for scintillating, attacking play, acted like destroyers.

Vincent Kompany may have transformed Burnley into a far more attractive side than they were under Sean Dyche, and they won promotion last season in record-breaking time. However, you would still expect United, with their budget, to take the initiative.

Instead, they had just 38 percent of possession, the lowest of the four visitors to Turf Moor this season (Manchester City had 65%, Aston Villa 43% and Tottenham 54%). They also came away with the narrowest scoreline, with City easing to a 3-0 victory, Villa winning 3-1 and Tottenham hammering Kompany's side 5-2.

Burnley also made 647 passes, more than in any previous Premier League game, with United making just 400. Possession is not always the key to victory, but United's scant time on the ball has to be a concern. For one five-minute period in the second half, they had just 10% possession. They were too slow when they built out from the back and, the goal aside, they had few effective counter-attacks.

Given that United had lost their previous three matches in all competitions and had conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games for the first time since 1978, it was understandable that Ten Hag pointed to his team's defensive security after the game.

United had conceded 14 goals in their previous five games and travelled to Turf Moor missing three of their five centre-backs (four if you count Luke Shaw), so the clean sheet was very welcome.

"We were very disciplined and followed the rules," Ten Hag said. "There is togetherness and there is unity and there is real good spirit in the dressing room."

The manager's analysis ignored three key moments in the game, however: Zeki Amdouni's header which was saved by Andre Onana, another strike from the Swiss that come off the post and Sander Berge sending a free header over the bar in the second half. This was far from the perfect defensive display, and a side more clinical than Burnley would have punished United.

There was something odd about Ten Hag hailing his side for being disciplined and following the rules, especially in the manner he put it: "When you defend with 11 and you do it in the right moment then it is very difficult to play against Manchester United."

United managers of the past would usually utter the club's name like that after a great comeback from several goals down or an awesome attacking display, not after a narrow 1-0 win against a team in the relegation zone. United's global fanbase did not start following the team due to their defensive might or their adeptness in following rules.

They were attracted by the stories of Sir Matt Busby telling his team it was their duty to entertain fans and give them some respite after a punishing week working down the mines or in the factories. They were lulled by the thrilling wing play of Sir Alex Ferguson's teams of the 1990s, and the star power of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo through the 2000s.

"Attack, attack, attack" is what the Stretford End chants, not "defend, defend, defend". That is why Jose Mourinho was never the right fit for United, despite his knack for winning trophies. United's style of play was renowned around the world, but now the club seems to be suffering from an identity crisis.

Ten Hag was hired by United largely because of his commitment to attacking football with Ajax. In his first full season in charge of the Amsterdam giants in 2018-19, the manager oversaw one of the most breathtaking tales in recent Champions League history. His side outclassed and knocked out then holders Real Madrid, winning 4-1 at Santiago Bernabeu, while also slaying Ronaldo and Juventus in the quarter-finals.

His side were also a joy to watch domestically. In his three full seasons in charge (the 2019-20 season ended prematurely due to Covid-19), they scored an average of 106 goals per campaign. In that remarkable 2018-19 season, they netted 119 goals in just 34 games. His expected goal difference per 90 minutes read +1.73 for that first campaign and +1.93 for the next two.

Contrast that with his United side. Even though the Red Devils finished third last season, they scored just 58 goals in the Premier League, posting a measly expected goals difference per 90 minutes of +0.45. This season they have scored just six goals in six league games while conceding 11, posting an XG of -0.05.

The day before United's 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Ten Hag used injury problems to justify the fact he has been unable to impose his desired style of play on the team. "One thing is true, from the start of last season I don't think I ever started with, in my opinion, the best starting XI," he said. "There was always injuries. We always got results apart from the period we are in now. I have experienced it in the past and managed it. You have to deal with it. I like these situations because you have to handle it and know what to do, and that is focusing on the process."

But a manager of his calibre should be able to do more given the resources he has at his disposable. The Dutchman has been generously backed in the transfer market since taking charge in 2022, spending £211 million ($258m) in his first year and £195m ($238m) in his second.

He has been able to buy world-class players such as Casemiro as well as less-proven individuals he had huge faith in such as Mason Mount and Antony. He has no real excuse for the uninspired, reactive football that has been on display for much of his tenure.

And United are far from the only team to fall victim to a spate of injuries. Manchester City have lost talisman Kevin De Bruyne plus John Stones, and had to get by without Mateo Kovacic, Jack Grealish and Bernardo Silva for spells. And yet they have won six league games in a row.

Tottenham have thrived despite parting with all-time top scorer Harry Kane and Brighton outclassed United at Old Trafford last week despite missing many of their regular starters. The difference is that Pep Guardiola, Ange Postecoglou and Roberto De Zerbi have all managed to impose their philosophy on their teams. Whether they are starters or substitutes, they know how their manager wants them to play, no matter which ground they visit.

United, despite having a so-called elite manager and a wealth of resources, are still unsure of how they want to play. They are still reliant on brilliant individual moments like Fernandes' goal against Burnley to get them out of trouble. And unless Ten Hag can get his players to start playing on the front foot and dominating games, they can expect to finish outside of the top four, living only off memories of scrappy, narrow victories like the one they pulled off at Turf Moor.