🔗 Share this article

Ruben Amorim's tenure at the Red Devils was widely regarded as a major letdown. Statistically speaking, his results stands out for all the poor reasons. In the contemporary football age, no United manager has achieved fewer points per game, nor achieved a league finish as low as the 15th spot. Delving further back, you have to revisit the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a higher percentage of fixtures. Additionally, he famously etched his name in club lore by enduring a final loss to Tottenham, namely Ange Postecoglou's iteration of Spurs.

The game, though, is rarely so straightforward. Despite the scrutiny of his favored system, he exits a club in a much stronger position than the one he inherited. In a prior match this term, following a win against Brighton, Welbeck relayed that teammates were hailing their opponents as the best team they had encountered in a while. Their play in a breathtaking 4-4 draw with AFC Bournemouth was equally promising and exciting.

Even though it is hard to dispute the dismissal—especially given it was allegedly caused by his remarks regarding bosses with more miserable records—Amorim's downfall was finally hindered by terrible luck. If the absence of vital stars not coincided with the loss of other pivotal members, he might remain in the position—perhaps succeeding.

Fresh Start for United

As a result, the interim boss Fletcher inherits a reasonably solid situation. Important players like Mason Mount, Fernandes, and Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will soon rejoin from the Afcon. Just sensible management of this talented group is expected to be sufficient to ensure a finish in the European spots and, with it, European football for the coming campaign—probably in the coveted European Cup.

The Clarets' Formidable Challenge

Burnley, though, are unlikely to be a pushover. Despite having only a dozen points and losing three of their last five matches, their displays have often been stronger than the outcomes show. Manager Parker will surely have his squad pumped up to attack the visitors who are likely to play an starting eleven that has lacked cohesion, deployed in a setup they have not used for a year or more.

Match begins: 20:15 GMT.