More dropped points at Old Trafford saw Manchester United loosen their grip on European qualificaiton, with plenty of quesrions to be answered going into a big summer.
Part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will have to make a decision on the future of manager Erik ten Hag, as well as deciding what to do in the transfer market. The billionaire had previously suggested failure to reach the Champions League could impact the club's options, and now it's impossible for them to finish in the top four.
With just four games to go, United sit 13 points adrift of Aston Villa in fourth. Villa could only draw with Chelsea on Saturday night, but United had earlier dropped points at home to relegation-threatened Burnley.
Ten Hag's response to the 1-1 draw against the Clarets has come into focus, along with questions about the summer transfer window. Here are the latest lines from around Old Trafford.
Ten Hag makes plea to fans
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has urged fans to be patient with his team's young stars, making comparisons with United squads of yesteryear. Boos were heard from the crowd at the end of Saturday's draw with Burnley, who rescued a point thanks to a late Zeki Amdouni penalty.
“We are building this club back with young players and that takes time,” Ten Hag said after more points were dropped. “We have brought in young players Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund and Kobbie Mainoo who are all in their first Premier League season.
“We know this League gets more intense every year and those players have to adjust which takes time. I’m very impatient but we need patient fans.
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“I remember the United team of 2004-5, they didn’t play great football but they were building and it takes time but everyone forgets. Even the players who were in that team, they forget they were struggling and that they need time to progress.”
Transfer target tipped to move
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has given United encouragement over a potential summer move for Eagles star Michael Olise. French under-21 international Olise has impressed when fit this season, after staying at Selhurst Park despite interest from Chelsea last summer.
I think you’re probably in a situation where Michael Olise signed a new contract last year predominantly to protect Palace’s value in the next set of negotiations," Jordan said in talkSPORT. "And [Ebere] Eze, I think, you’re not going to be able to hold him back.
“So what would I do? I would want to wring every single last penny out of the purchasers to get the value for Palace. If someone like West Ham came knocking on my door, they can sling their hook. The player won’t have that enormous, head-turning moment.
“But if Man United come, or Liverpool or Arsenal come, the player forms part of the problem because he then goes; ‘Well, I love it here but I want to go to this bigger football club. Now, I want to go.”
United boss' 'entertaining' claim
Erik ten Hag argued his Manchester United side are one of the most entertaining teams in the Premier League in the aftermath of their weekend draw. The point against Burnley left his team in sixth, a point ahead of Newcastle, despite having a goal difference of +1 compared to the Magpies' +19.
United are the joint-lowest scorers in the top half, with 52 goals from 34 matches, but boast a better goals against column than a number of rivals despite conceding high numbers of shots. Their last two FA Cup games produced 13 goals, though, and Ten Hag pointed to his team's dynamism after their last league game.
"We are one of the most dynamic and entertaining teams in the league at this moment," the former Ajax boss told Match of the Day. "We are creating loads of chances by playing good football. Every team gives up opportunities. But when it is up to us, it is weird.
In a separate response to Sky Sports, Ten Hag lamented his team's wastefulness against Burnley. "We put ourselves in a winning position by playing some good football - creating loads of chances and then to give it away in the end in the final minutes it's so unnecessary," he said.
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