🔗 Share this article Burnley Take On Manchester United in Key English Top Division Encounter The former manager's spell at the Red Devils was widely regarded as a major letdown. By any measure, his performance stands out for all the wrong causes. During the modern top-flight period, no United manager has managed a lower points average, or secured a league finish as disappointing as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to revisit Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who lost a greater proportion of fixtures. Furthermore, he infamously secured a place in club lore by enduring a loss in a final to Spurs, namely Ange Postecoglou's iteration of Tottenham. Football, however, is rarely so straightforward. Despite the negative press of his favored system, Amorim leaves behind a squad in a far better position than the one he inherited. Months ago, following a defeat of Brighton, the striker Welbeck relayed that his colleagues were lauding United as the finest team they had encountered in a while. Their football in a breathtaking four-all stalemate with AFC Bournemouth was equally hopeful and thrilling. Although it is tough to argue against the termination—especially given it was said to be sparked by his remarks regarding bosses with poorer histories—his demise was in the end stymied by terrible fortune. Had injuries to crucial personnel not occurred alongside the unavailability of other pivotal members, he could still be in the role—maybe thriving. A New Era Begins Consequently, Darren Fletcher takes over a relatively stable situation. Key figures like Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are available again, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future be back from the Afcon. Merely sensible stewardship of this skilled group is expected to be enough to secure a fifth-place finish and, with it, European football for the following term—in all likelihood in the coveted UEFA Champions League. Burnley's Formidable Test Burnley, though, are unlikely to roll over. Even with having only a dozen points and losing three of their last five outings, their showings have often been stronger than the results suggest. Boss Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his team revved up to attack the visitors who are set to field an XI that has lacked cohesion, arranged in a formation they have gone without for more than a year. Match begins: 20:15 GMT.