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Amorim's spell at Manchester United was widely regarded as a significant letdown. Looking at the numbers, his performance stands out for all the wrong causes. Throughout the modern top-flight period, not a single Man Utd boss has recorded a worse points return, nor secured a league finish as disappointing as 15th place. Examining the archives, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who lost a higher percentage of matches. Furthermore, he famously secured a place in the team's history by suffering a final loss to Spurs, specifically Postecoglou's side of Tottenham.

Football, but, is rarely that simple. Regardless of the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, he exits a club in a significantly improved position than the one he inherited. In a prior match this term, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Welbeck reported that his colleagues were hailing their opponents as the finest opposition they had encountered in a while. The football in a breathtaking high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was both encouraging and thrilling.

While it is difficult to contest the termination—especially given it was allegedly sparked by his criticism of executives with more miserable histories—his downfall was in the end stymied by awful luck. Had fitness issues for crucial stars not occurred alongside the loss of other important individuals, he could still be in the job—perhaps even.

Fresh Start for United

Therefore, the interim boss Fletcher inherits a relatively stable situation. Key figures like Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will shortly return from the Africa Cup of Nations. Merely careful management of this talented squad ought to be sufficient to secure a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental competition for the coming campaign—probably in the coveted European Cup.

Burnley's Daunting Challenge

The home side, though, won't roll over. Despite having only 12 points and losing three of their last five games, their showings have at times been better than the scorelines indicate. Manager Parker will undoubtedly have his squad pumped up to take the game to opponents who are set to start an XI that has lacked cohesion, set up in a formation they have gone without for over a year.

Start time: 8.15pm GMT.