🔗 Share this article

Ruben Amorim's spell at Old Trafford was widely regarded as a notable failure. Statistically speaking, his performance stands out for all the wrong reasons. During the Premier League era, no United manager has recorded fewer points per game, nor managed a final position as poor as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a United boss who lost a larger share of fixtures. Furthermore, he infamously secured a place in the team's history by experiencing a loss in a final to Spurs, namely Ange Postecoglou's iteration of Spurs.

Life, though, is seldom so black and white. Despite the negative press of his tactical approach, he exits a team in a far better position than that which he found. Earlier this season, following a win against Brighton, the striker Welbeck reported that fellow players were hailing United as the best team they had faced in a long time. Their performance in a breathtaking high-scoring tie with AFC Bournemouth was both encouraging and thrilling.

While it is difficult to contest the decision to sack him—especially given it was said to be sparked by his comments about superiors with even worse track records—Amorim's downfall was finally stymied by terrible fortune. Had the absence of crucial stars not happened at the same time as the unavailability of other essential members, he may still be in the position—possibly thriving.

Fresh Start for United

Consequently, the interim boss Fletcher takes over a relatively positive situation. Key figures like Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are now fit, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future be back from the Afcon. Simply prudent stewardship of this skilled group ought to be sufficient to secure a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental competition for the coming campaign—probably in the coveted European Cup.

Burnley's Formidable Task

The home side, but, will not be a pushover. Although boasting only twelve points and losing 3 of their previous five outings, their displays have often been better than the results suggest. Boss Scott Parker will surely have his side pumped up to attack the visitors who are expected to field an XI that has never played together, set up in a formation they have gone without for more than a year.

Start time: 20:15 GMT.