🔗 Share this article

Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford was widely regarded as a significant failure. Looking at the numbers, his record stands out for all the poor reasons. During the modern top-flight period, no United manager has achieved a lower points average, nor managed a final position as low as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a larger share of fixtures. Moreover, he famously secured a place in club lore by enduring a final loss to Tottenham Hotspur, particularly Postecoglou's iteration of the North London club.

Football, however, is not often that simple. Regardless of the scrutiny of his 3-4-2-1 formation, the Portuguese manager departs from a club in a far better state than the one he took over. In a prior match this term, following a defeat of Brighton, the striker Welbeck reported that teammates were hailing United as the finest team they had encountered in some time. The performance in a thrilling high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was both promising and thrilling.

Although it is hard to contest the decision to sack him—particularly given it was reportedly sparked by his comments about superiors with poorer records—Amorim's downfall was ultimately hindered by awful luck. If the absence of vital stars not happened at the same time as the loss of other essential individuals, he may remain in the role—perhaps even.

A New Era Begins

Consequently, Fletcher inherits a reasonably positive state of affairs. Important players like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are now fit, while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will shortly return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Merely careful husbandry of this skilled group should be sufficient to guarantee a finish in the European spots and, with it, European football for the coming campaign—probably in the prestigious UEFA Champions League.

Burnley's Daunting Task

The home side, but, will not make things easy. Despite having only twelve points and having lost three of their most recent five outings, their displays have at times been better than the outcomes suggest. Head coach Parker will surely have his side revved up to attack the visitors who are expected to field an XI that has never played together, deployed in a system they have gone without for a year or more.

Start time: 8:15 in the evening GMT.