🔗 Share this article

The former manager's spell at Manchester United is considered by many to have been a significant letdown. Statistically speaking, his results is remarkable for all the poor factors. In the modern top-flight period, no boss at the club has managed a worse points return, nor achieved a final position as poor as 15th place. Delving further back, you have to revisit Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who lost a greater proportion of games. Moreover, he infamously secured a place in the team's history by enduring a loss in a final to Tottenham Hotspur, namely Postecoglou's iteration of Spurs.

Football, though, is rarely so straightforward. In spite of the criticism of his tactical approach, the Portuguese manager leaves behind a club in a far better position than the one he found. In a prior match this term, following a victory over Brighton, the striker Welbeck reported that fellow players were hailing United as the most impressive team they had faced in some time. The performance in a thrilling high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was both promising and exciting.

Although it is hard to dispute the termination—especially given it was reportedly caused by his remarks regarding superiors with more miserable histories—his demise was finally hampered by atrocious fortune. Had fitness issues for vital personnel not coincided with the absence of other pivotal individuals, he could remain in the position—maybe even.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

Consequently, Darren Fletcher inherits a reasonably stable situation. Important players like Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will shortly return from the African tournament. Merely prudent management of this gifted group should be adequate to guarantee a top-five finish and, with it, continental competition for the following term—most likely in the elite UEFA Champions League.

Burnley's Formidable Task

Burnley, but, will not roll over. Despite boasting only a dozen points and suffering defeats in 3 of their previous five matches, their performances have often been better than the outcomes suggest. Boss Parker will surely have his side revved up to get after opponents who are set to start an lineup that has lacked cohesion, set up in a system they have gone without for a year or more.

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