The Clarets Take On Man United in Key Top-Flight Fixture
The former manager's tenure at the Red Devils has been labeled a notable letdown. By any measure, his performance is notable for all the poor factors. Throughout the modern top-flight period, no United manager has managed fewer points per game, or secured a final position as low as 15th place. Examining the archives, 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 games. Moreover, he infamously secured a place in the team's history by experiencing a loss in a final to Tottenham, specifically the current iteration of Spurs.
Football, though, is not often so black and white. Regardless of the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, he leaves behind a squad in a significantly improved state than that which he found. In a prior match this term, following a victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, the striker Welbeck relayed that fellow players were hailing their opponents as the most impressive side they had encountered in some time. The play in a breathtaking four-all stalemate with Bournemouth was both encouraging and thrilling.
While it is tough to contest the termination—especially given it was allegedly triggered by his criticism of superiors with even worse histories—Amorim's demise was finally hindered by terrible fortune. If the absence of crucial personnel not occurred alongside the absence of other essential members, he could still be in the job—perhaps even.
A New Era Begins
Therefore, the interim boss Fletcher inherits a relatively stable state of affairs. Key figures like Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are available again, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will soon return from the African tournament. Just careful management of this skilled roster is expected to be sufficient to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, European football for the following term—in all likelihood in the elite UEFA Champions League.
The Clarets' Tough Challenge
Burnley, though, are unlikely to be a pushover. Although boasting only twelve points and having lost three of their previous five matches, their showings have frequently been better than the scorelines indicate. Head coach Scott Parker will surely have his squad fired up to take the game to the visitors who are set to play an XI that has not had time to gel, arranged in a system they have gone without for more than a year.
Match begins: 8:15 in the evening GMT.
