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Amorim's spell at the Red Devils has been labeled a notable failure. Looking at the numbers, his record is notable for all the negative causes. Throughout the contemporary football age, no boss at the club has managed a worse points return, or secured a final position as poor as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who lost a larger share of matches. Additionally, he notoriously etched his name in club lore by experiencing a cup final defeat to Tottenham, particularly Ange Postecoglou's side of Spurs.

Football, but, is rarely so black and white. Despite the negative press of his tactical approach, Amorim departs from a club in a significantly improved position than the one he found. Earlier this season, following a defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion, Welbeck reported that teammates were praising their opponents as the best side they had encountered in a long time. Their football in a thrilling four-all stalemate with AFC Bournemouth was both promising and exciting.

While it is hard to argue against the termination—especially given it was allegedly sparked by his criticism of executives with more miserable histories—Amorim's demise was ultimately hampered by awful luck. Had injuries to key personnel not coincided with the absence of other important individuals, he could remain in the job—maybe thriving.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

Therefore, Darren Fletcher inherits a reasonably stable scenario. Star figures like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will shortly rejoin from the African tournament. Just careful management of this gifted group should be enough to ensure a finish in the European spots and, with it, continental football for the coming campaign—in all likelihood in the elite UEFA Champions League.

Burnley's Formidable Task

The home side, though, are unlikely to roll over. Even with having only a dozen points and suffering defeats in three of their most recent five outings, their displays have at times been better than the results indicate. Manager Parker will certainly have his squad revved up to attack opponents who are set to field an lineup that has not had time to gel, set up in a formation they have not used for a year or more.

Start time: 8:15 in the evening GMT.