Burnley Take On Man United in Key Top-Flight Fixture

Ruben Amorim's tenure at Manchester United has been labeled a major disappointment. Looking at the numbers, his performance is notable for all the poor factors. Throughout the contemporary football age, not a single Man Utd boss has managed a lower points average, or managed a standing as disappointing as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a manager at the club who lost a greater proportion of matches. Moreover, he famously carved a niche in the team's history by experiencing a cup final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, specifically Postecoglou's iteration of Tottenham.

Football, however, is seldom that simple. In spite of the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, the Portuguese manager departs from a squad in a far better state than that which he took over. Earlier this season, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, the striker Welbeck reported that fellow players were praising their opponents as the best opposition they had encountered in a long time. The performance in a exhilarating high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was equally encouraging and exciting.

Even though it is difficult to contest the dismissal—particularly given it was reportedly caused by his criticism of superiors with poorer histories—Amorim's downfall was in the end hampered by atrocious luck. If injuries to crucial players not happened at the same time as the unavailability of other pivotal figures, he might remain in the position—perhaps succeeding.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

Consequently, the interim boss Fletcher inherits a relatively positive state of affairs. Key players like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are now fit, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will soon be back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Simply prudent stewardship of this skilled squad should be enough to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, European football for the following term—most likely in the prestigious European Cup.

The Clarets' Daunting Challenge

The home side, but, are unlikely to be a pushover. Although boasting only a dozen points and having lost 3 of their last five games, their displays have frequently been more impressive than the results show. Manager Scott Parker will certainly have his team fired up to attack United who are likely to play an XI that has never played together, arranged in a setup they have gone without for over a year.

Start time: 20:15 GMT.