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Amorim's tenure at Manchester United was widely regarded as a major disappointment. Looking at the numbers, his performance is remarkable for all the poor causes. In the modern top-flight period, no United manager has recorded fewer points per game, nor managed a standing as low as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a Red Devils' gaffer who lost a larger share of matches. Furthermore, he infamously carved a niche in the team's history by enduring a final loss to Spurs, specifically Ange Postecoglou's iteration of Spurs.

The game, though, is seldom so straightforward. In spite of the criticism of his 3-4-2-1 formation, the Portuguese manager leaves behind a team in a far better position than that which he found. In a prior match this term, following a defeat of Brighton, Welbeck reported that fellow players were hailing United as the most impressive opposition they had played against in a long time. The play in a exhilarating 4-4 draw with Bournemouth was equally encouraging and thrilling.

Although it is tough to argue against the dismissal—especially given it was reportedly triggered by his remarks regarding superiors with even worse records—his demise was in the end stymied by atrocious fortune. If injuries to vital stars not happened at the same time as the unavailability of other essential individuals, he might remain in the position—maybe succeeding.

A New Era Begins

Therefore, Darren Fletcher steps into a fairly positive scenario. Key figures like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are back to fitness, while Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future rejoin from the Africa Cup of Nations. Just sensible stewardship of this talented roster is expected to be adequate to ensure a fifth-place finish and, with it, European football for the following term—in all likelihood in the coveted European Cup.

The Clarets' Formidable Challenge

Burnley, however, will not be a pushover. Although having only a dozen points and having lost three of their last five games, their displays have frequently been more impressive than the scorelines indicate. Boss Parker will undoubtedly have his side fired up to get after the visitors who are set to start an XI that has lacked cohesion, deployed in a formation they have been denied for more than a year.

Start time: 20:15 GMT.