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The former manager's tenure at Manchester United was widely regarded as a significant letdown. Statistically speaking, his performance is remarkable for all the negative factors. Throughout the modern top-flight period, no United manager has recorded a lower points average, or achieved a final position as low as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to return to Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a United boss who lost a larger share of matches. Furthermore, he famously carved a niche in club lore by suffering a loss in a final to Spurs, namely the current iteration of Tottenham.

Football, however, is not often so black and white. In spite of the negative press of his tactical approach, Amorim departs from a team in a far better state than that which he inherited. Months ago, following a defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion, Welbeck shared that teammates were lauding their opponents as the most impressive opposition they had played against in a long time. The performance in a breathtaking 4-4 draw with Bournemouth was both hopeful and exhilarating.

Although it is hard to contest the decision to sack him—particularly given it was allegedly triggered by his comments about executives with poorer track records—his downfall was in the end stymied by atrocious fortune. If fitness issues for crucial players not coincided with the loss of other important members, he could remain in the position—perhaps succeeding.

A New Era Begins

Therefore, the interim boss Fletcher steps into a reasonably positive state of affairs. Star players like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Simply careful management of this gifted roster is expected to be adequate to ensure a top-five finish and, with it, European football for the coming campaign—most likely in the prestigious Champions League.

Burnley's Tough Task

Vincent Kompany's team, however, will not make things easy. Despite boasting only 12 points and suffering defeats in 3 of their most recent five matches, their displays have at times been stronger than the scorelines suggest. Manager Scott Parker will certainly have his team revved up to take the game to opponents who are set to field an XI that has never played together, deployed in a system they have not used for a year or more.

Match begins: 20:15 GMT.