🔗 Share this article

Ruben Amorim's spell at the Red Devils was widely regarded as a notable disappointment. Statistically speaking, his performance stands out for all the wrong factors. During the contemporary football age, no United manager has recorded a lower points average, nor managed a standing as low as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who lost a greater proportion of fixtures. Furthermore, he notoriously secured a place in club lore by suffering a loss in a final to Spurs, particularly the current side of the North London club.

Life, but, is rarely so black and white. Despite the negative press of his favored system, Amorim leaves behind a club in a much stronger position than the one he found. Earlier this season, following a win against Brighton, Welbeck relayed that his colleagues were hailing United as the best opposition they had played against in some time. Their football in a breathtaking 4-4 draw with AFC Bournemouth was both encouraging and exciting.

Although it is tough to dispute the decision to sack him—particularly given it was said to be triggered by his remarks regarding bosses with even worse histories—Amorim's downfall was finally hindered by awful fortune. If the absence of vital personnel not happened at the same time as the absence of other important individuals, he might remain in the role—maybe even.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

Therefore, Darren Fletcher takes over a relatively stable state of affairs. Key figures like Mount, Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future rejoin from the African tournament. Simply prudent stewardship of this skilled group is expected to be enough to secure a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental football for next season—probably in the prestigious European Cup.

The Clarets' Daunting Test

Burnley, but, won't be a pushover. Despite boasting only 12 points and suffering defeats in three of their most recent five matches, their showings have at times been stronger than the scorelines indicate. Boss Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his squad pumped up to take the game to United who are expected to start an starting eleven that has not had time to gel, deployed in a formation they have not used for over a year.

Start time: 8.15pm GMT.