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Amorim's time at Old Trafford was widely regarded as a notable disappointment. By any measure, his performance is notable for all the negative reasons. In the Premier League era, no United manager has recorded fewer points per game, nor secured a final position as disappointing as 15th in the table. Delving further back, you have to revisit the manager Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a United boss who was defeated in a larger share of games. Furthermore, he notoriously etched his name in the team's history by enduring a final loss to Tottenham Hotspur, particularly Postecoglou's version of Spurs.

Football, however, is not often so black and white. In spite of the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, he departs from a squad in a much stronger position than the one he took over. In a prior match this term, following a victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, Welbeck reported that fellow players were lauding their opponents as the most impressive side they had faced in a while. The performance in a exhilarating 4-4 draw with AFC Bournemouth was both encouraging and exciting.

While it is difficult to dispute the dismissal—especially given it was said to be caused by his remarks regarding superiors with even worse track records—Amorim's downfall was ultimately stymied by atrocious fortune. Had injuries to vital personnel not happened at the same time as the loss of other essential individuals, he might still be in the position—maybe even.

A New Era Begins

As a result, Darren Fletcher inherits a fairly stable situation. Important figures like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future rejoin from the Africa Cup of Nations. Simply prudent stewardship of this talented roster should be adequate to guarantee a top-five finish and, with it, European football for the following term—most likely in the elite Champions League.

Burnley's Formidable Task

Vincent Kompany's team, though, will not make things easy. Even with boasting only a dozen points and suffering defeats in 3 of their last five games, their performances have often been more impressive than the scorelines indicate. Manager Parker will undoubtedly have his team pumped up to take the game to opponents who are expected to play an starting eleven that has not had time to gel, arranged in a system they have been denied for more than a year.

Start time: 8.15pm GMT.