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Ruben Amorim's time at Manchester United was widely regarded as a major disappointment. By any measure, his record is remarkable for all the poor reasons. Throughout the Premier League era, no United manager has achieved a worse points return, or achieved a standing as poor as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to go back to Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a Red Devils' gaffer who was defeated in a greater proportion of fixtures. Additionally, he infamously etched his name in United's annals by suffering a loss in a final to Spurs, particularly Postecoglou's version of Spurs.

Life, however, is rarely that simple. Despite the criticism of his tactical approach, Amorim departs from a club in a far better position than the one he inherited. Earlier this season, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Welbeck relayed that his colleagues were lauding United as the best team they had faced in a long time. Their play in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth was both promising and exciting.

Although it is difficult to dispute the dismissal—especially given it was allegedly triggered by his comments about executives with poorer histories—Amorim's downfall was finally stymied by terrible fortune. If injuries to key personnel not coincided with the loss of other pivotal figures, he could remain in the job—maybe thriving.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

As a result, the interim boss Fletcher steps into a fairly stable state of affairs. Key players like Mount, Fernandes, and Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future return from the Afcon. Simply careful stewardship of this talented squad should be sufficient to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental football for the following term—most likely in the prestigious Champions League.

Burnley's Formidable Test

Vincent Kompany's team, though, won't be a pushover. Even with boasting only twelve points and suffering defeats in 3 of their last five games, their showings have frequently been more impressive than the results indicate. Boss Parker will certainly have his team revved up to take the game to United who are set to field an lineup that has lacked cohesion, set up in a formation they have gone without for a year or more.

Start time: 8.15pm GMT.