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Amorim's time at the Red Devils is considered by many to have been a significant letdown. Statistically speaking, his performance is notable for all the negative reasons. During the modern top-flight period, not a single Man Utd boss has managed a worse points return, nor managed a league finish as low as 15th in the table. Examining the archives, you have to go back to Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a Red Devils' gaffer who lost a higher percentage of games. Additionally, he infamously secured a place in United's annals by suffering a loss in a final to Tottenham Hotspur, namely Postecoglou's side of Spurs.

Life, though, is not often that simple. In spite of the negative press of his favored system, he departs from a squad in a much stronger state than the one he took over. Earlier this season, following a victory over Brighton, the striker Welbeck shared that his colleagues were hailing their opponents as the best opposition they had encountered in a long time. Their play in a exhilarating high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was equally encouraging and exciting.

While it is difficult to argue against the dismissal—particularly given it was allegedly caused by his criticism of executives with more miserable histories—Amorim's demise was finally hampered by atrocious fortune. Had the absence of crucial players not occurred alongside the unavailability of other important figures, he might still be in the role—perhaps succeeding.

A New Era Begins

As a result, Fletcher takes over a fairly positive state of affairs. Key figures like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are back to fitness, while Diallo and Mbeumo will soon be back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Merely careful management of this talented roster is expected to be sufficient to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, European competition for the coming campaign—probably in the prestigious European Cup.

Burnley's Tough Task

Vincent Kompany's team, however, are unlikely to be a pushover. Although having only a dozen points and having lost three of their last five games, their performances have often been better than the results indicate. Boss Parker will certainly have his team pumped up to take the game to opponents who are expected to field an starting eleven that has lacked cohesion, set up in a formation they have gone without for a year or more.

Start time: 8.15pm GMT.