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Ruben Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford is considered by many to have been a notable disappointment. Statistically speaking, his record stands out for all the poor factors. In the Premier League era, no United manager has achieved fewer points per game, or managed a final position as low as 15th place. Examining the archives, you have to return to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a United boss who lost a higher percentage of games. Additionally, he infamously carved a niche in club lore by enduring a loss in a final to Tottenham, particularly the current iteration of Tottenham.

Football, however, is rarely so straightforward. In spite of the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, the Portuguese manager departs from a team in a significantly improved position than that which he took over. Earlier this season, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Welbeck relayed that his colleagues were lauding their opponents as the best side they had played against in some time. Their football in a thrilling high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was equally encouraging and exhilarating.

While it is difficult to dispute the decision to sack him—particularly given it was allegedly triggered by his comments about superiors with more miserable histories—Amorim's exit was finally stymied by terrible luck. If injuries to crucial personnel not occurred alongside the loss of other essential figures, he could still be in the job—perhaps succeeding.

A New Era Begins

Therefore, the interim boss Fletcher steps into a fairly solid situation. Key players like Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Mbeumo will soon return from the African tournament. Merely careful husbandry of this talented roster ought to be adequate to guarantee a top-five finish and, with it, continental football for next season—in all likelihood in the elite UEFA Champions League.

Burnley's Formidable Task

Vincent Kompany's team, but, are unlikely to make things easy. Despite boasting only twelve points and having lost 3 of their most recent five games, their displays have frequently been better than the results indicate. Boss Scott Parker will surely have his squad pumped up to attack United who are expected to start an starting eleven that has never played together, set up in a formation they have gone without for a year or more.

Start time: 20:15 GMT.