'He let us down today' - Ex-Manchester United youngster savaged by his own boss in brutal post-match interview after red card for new club

The Tunisian midfielder was sent off after a late challenge on Stoke’s Junior Tchamadeu during a 0-0 stalemate at Turf Moor on New Year's Day. The red card, issued for violent conduct, came just 18 minutes after Mejbri had been substituted onto the pitch. As a result, the 21-year-old will serve a three-match suspension, leaving his team short-handed in the critical stages of the league campaign.

A victory against Stoke would have propelled Burnley to within a single point of Championship leaders Leeds United. However, Scott Parker’s men failed to capitalize on their chances, much to the frustration of the home supporters. The missed opportunity was compounded by Mejbri’s dismissal, with Parker openly expressing his disappointment during the post-match press conference.

Speaking after the match, Burnley manager Parker did not mince words when addressing Mejbri’s conduct.

"He's let us down today," he told reporters. "He's let the team down, he's let myself down, he's let the staff down. He understands that. He's devastated but I will deal with him and deal with that situation. But he's a young player still in development. He's a player that is always on the line and I would never want to take that out of him because that makes him the player he is. But today he's stepped over that line and we will deal with it, show where he's gone wrong and I will help him through that."

Mejbri’s fiery disposition has long been a point of concern. The midfielder, who joined Manchester United from AS Monaco in 2019, has faced several controversies throughout his young career. Notably, he was involved in a training-ground altercation with then-United teammate Alex Telles in 2022, an incident that forced interim manager Ralf Rangnick to halt the session prematurely.

With Mejbri suspended, Burnley will be without his services for their next three matches, starting with a critical Championship clash against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. He will also miss the FA Cup fixture against Reading on January 11 and the next league match against Sunderland.