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The former manager's spell at the Red Devils is considered by many to have been a major letdown. Looking at the numbers, his results is notable for all the wrong factors. During the Premier League era, no boss at the club has achieved a worse points return, or achieved a final position as disappointing as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to revisit Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a Red Devils' gaffer who lost a higher percentage of matches. Additionally, he famously secured a place in club lore by enduring a cup final defeat to Tottenham, specifically Ange Postecoglou's version of Spurs.

Football, however, is not often that simple. Despite the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, Amorim exits a team in a far better condition than the one he found. Earlier this season, following a defeat of Brighton, Danny Welbeck shared that fellow players were hailing United as the finest opposition they had encountered in a long time. Their play in a breathtaking 4-4 draw with Bournemouth was both encouraging and thrilling.

While it is difficult to contest the termination—especially given it was allegedly sparked by his remarks regarding executives with poorer track records—Amorim's exit was finally stymied by atrocious luck. Had the absence of crucial personnel not happened at the same time as the absence of other pivotal members, he might remain in the position—possibly succeeding.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

Consequently, the interim boss Fletcher takes over a relatively positive state of affairs. Key players like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are back to fitness, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will soon rejoin from the African tournament. Just prudent management of this gifted roster should be adequate to secure a finish in the European spots and, with it, European football for next season—most likely in the coveted UEFA Champions League.

Burnley's Tough Challenge

Burnley, however, are unlikely to roll over. Despite having only a dozen points and having lost 3 of their previous five outings, their performances have often been more impressive than the results suggest. Boss Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his team fired up to attack opponents who are expected to play an lineup that has never played together, deployed in a setup they have gone without for more than a year.

Kick-off: 8:15 in the evening GMT.