Ruben Amorim's tenure at Old Trafford is considered by many to have been a notable disappointment. Statistically speaking, his results is notable for all the wrong reasons. During the contemporary football age, not a single Man Utd boss has achieved a lower points average, nor managed a league finish as low as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to revisit the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a larger share of fixtures. Furthermore, he famously carved a niche in the team's history by suffering a loss in a final to Tottenham Hotspur, specifically Ange Postecoglou's iteration of the North London club.
The game, however, is rarely so black and white. Regardless of the criticism of his favored system, he leaves behind a squad in a significantly improved state than the one he found. In a prior match this term, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, the striker Welbeck relayed that his colleagues were hailing United as the finest opposition they had faced in a while. The performance in a exhilarating high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was equally encouraging and thrilling.
Although it is hard to argue against the dismissal—particularly given it was reportedly sparked by his criticism of bosses with poorer records—Amorim's demise was finally hindered by awful luck. Had the absence of crucial stars not occurred alongside the unavailability of other pivotal figures, he might remain in the role—possibly even.
Therefore, Fletcher takes over a fairly stable situation. Key players like Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Mbeumo will shortly rejoin from the Afcon. Merely sensible husbandry of this talented squad should be sufficient to ensure a top-five finish and, with it, European competition for the following term—in all likelihood in the elite UEFA Champions League.
Burnley, however, will not make things easy. Even with boasting only twelve points and suffering defeats in 3 of their last five matches, their performances have often been more impressive than the scorelines show. Manager Scott Parker will certainly have his side pumped up to get after opponents who are expected to field an lineup that has never played together, set up in a formation they have been denied for over a year.
Kick-off: 20:15 GMT.
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