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Amorim's spell at Manchester United was widely regarded as a notable letdown. Statistically speaking, his results is notable for all the wrong factors. During the Premier League era, no boss at the club has managed a worse points return, nor achieved a league finish as low as 15th place. Examining the archives, you have to return to Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who was defeated in a greater proportion of fixtures. Additionally, he infamously etched his name in United's annals by suffering a final loss to Tottenham Hotspur, specifically Ange Postecoglou's version of Spurs.

Football, but, is not often that simple. Regardless of the negative press of his favored system, the Portuguese manager departs from a team in a much stronger position than that which he inherited. In a prior match this term, following a defeat of Brighton, the striker Welbeck shared that fellow players were hailing their opponents as the most impressive team they had played against in a long time. The performance in a breathtaking high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was both promising and thrilling.

Although it is tough to contest the termination—especially given it was said to be triggered by his criticism of superiors with poorer track records—his downfall was in the end hampered by terrible fortune. Had injuries to vital personnel not happened at the same time as the unavailability of other essential individuals, he could still be in the job—perhaps thriving.

A New Era Begins

Consequently, Darren Fletcher inherits a reasonably solid scenario. Star figures like Mason Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will soon return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Merely careful management of this talented group ought to be enough to guarantee a top-five finish and, with it, European competition for the following term—in all likelihood in the elite European Cup.

The Clarets' Tough Challenge

The home side, however, will not roll over. Even with boasting only twelve points and suffering defeats in three of their previous five outings, their displays have often been more impressive than the outcomes indicate. Head coach Parker will certainly have his team pumped up to attack opponents who are likely to play an XI that has never played together, set up in a formation they have gone without for over a year.

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