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Amorim's time at Old Trafford was widely regarded as a significant failure. Statistically speaking, his performance is remarkable for all the poor causes. During the modern top-flight period, no boss at the club has achieved a worse points return, nor managed a standing as low as the 15th spot. Delving further back, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who was defeated in a greater proportion of fixtures. Furthermore, he notoriously carved a niche in club lore by enduring a loss in a final to Tottenham, particularly Postecoglou's iteration of Spurs.

Life, though, is seldom so black and white. In spite of the criticism of his favored system, he departs from a club in a far better state than the one he found. Earlier this season, following a defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion, the striker Welbeck relayed that fellow players were lauding United as the finest side they had encountered in a while. The play in a exhilarating four-all stalemate with AFC Bournemouth was both hopeful and exciting.

While it is tough to dispute the termination—particularly given it was allegedly triggered by his comments about executives with even worse records—Amorim's exit was ultimately hindered by terrible fortune. If injuries to vital players not occurred alongside the absence of other pivotal figures, he could remain in the role—maybe even.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

Therefore, Darren Fletcher takes over a fairly stable scenario. Key players like Mount, Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Mbeumo will shortly be back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Just prudent management of this gifted roster ought to be adequate to ensure a fifth-place finish and, with it, European football for next season—in all likelihood in the prestigious Champions League.

Burnley's Tough Task

Burnley, however, are unlikely to make things easy. Although boasting only a dozen points and losing three of their last five matches, their showings have often been more impressive than the outcomes suggest. Boss Scott Parker will surely have his team revved up to take the game to the visitors who are expected to start an starting eleven that has never played together, arranged in a formation they have been denied for a year or more.

Start time: 20:15 GMT.