🔗 Share this article

Ruben Amorim's time at Manchester United is considered by many to have been a major letdown. Looking at the numbers, his performance is notable for all the wrong causes. In the Premier League era, not a single Man Utd boss has recorded fewer points per game, nor achieved a league finish as poor as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to go back to Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a greater proportion of games. Furthermore, he famously secured a place in club lore by experiencing a final loss to Tottenham, specifically the current iteration of Tottenham.

The game, though, is not often that simple. Despite the scrutiny of his tactical approach, he leaves behind a squad in a significantly improved condition than that which he found. Months ago, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Welbeck relayed that teammates were hailing their opponents as the finest opposition they had encountered in some time. Their football in a breathtaking high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was both promising and exciting.

Even though it is tough to contest the decision to sack him—particularly given it was said to be sparked by his comments about executives with even worse records—Amorim's exit was ultimately stymied by terrible fortune. If fitness issues for vital stars not occurred alongside the loss of other pivotal figures, he may still be in the position—maybe thriving.

A New Era Begins

Consequently, the interim boss Fletcher takes over a fairly solid state of affairs. Important players like Mason Mount, Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will shortly rejoin from the Africa Cup of Nations. Just sensible stewardship of this skilled roster ought to be sufficient to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental football for the coming campaign—probably in the elite UEFA Champions League.

Burnley's Daunting Challenge

Burnley, however, are unlikely to be a pushover. Even with having only 12 points and suffering defeats in 3 of their last five matches, their showings have often been better than the results indicate. Head coach Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his team pumped up to take the game to the visitors who are likely to start an lineup that has lacked cohesion, deployed in a system they have not used for more than a year.

Match begins: 8:15 in the evening GMT.