The Clarets Clash With Manchester United in Pivotal English Top Division Match

Amorim's spell at Manchester United was widely regarded as a significant disappointment. By any measure, his performance is notable for all the wrong reasons. In the contemporary football age, no United manager has recorded a lower points average, nor managed a final position as low as 15th place. Looking deeper into history, you have to return to Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who lost a larger share of fixtures. Moreover, he famously etched his name in the team's history by suffering a loss in a final to Tottenham Hotspur, namely the current side of the North London club.

Life, however, is rarely that simple. In spite of the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, the Portuguese manager leaves behind a team in a significantly improved condition than that which he took over. In a prior match this term, following a victory over Brighton, the striker Welbeck relayed that fellow players were lauding their opponents as the finest opposition they had faced in a long time. The play in a exhilarating high-scoring tie with AFC Bournemouth was equally promising and thrilling.

Although it is difficult to argue against the dismissal—especially given it was reportedly triggered by his criticism of bosses with even worse records—Amorim's downfall was finally hampered by terrible luck. If fitness issues for crucial stars not coincided with the loss of other pivotal individuals, he may remain in the job—possibly succeeding.

A New Era Begins

As a result, Darren Fletcher steps into a reasonably stable state of affairs. Key figures like Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are back to fitness, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future return from the Afcon. Merely careful management of this talented group is expected to be sufficient to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental football for the following term—in all likelihood in the elite Champions League.

The Clarets' Formidable Test

Vincent Kompany's team, however, will not be a pushover. Although boasting only 12 points and losing three of their last five matches, their performances have frequently been better than the scorelines indicate. Boss Scott Parker will certainly have his side revved up to get after United who are likely to play an starting eleven that has never played together, arranged in a setup they have not used for more than a year.

Match begins: 8.15pm GMT.