🔗 Share this article

The former manager's spell at the Red Devils has been labeled a notable letdown. Statistically speaking, his performance is remarkable for all the wrong factors. Throughout the Premier League era, no United manager has achieved a worse points return, or achieved a final position as poor as 15th in the table. Examining the archives, you have to return to Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a manager at the club who lost a higher percentage of fixtures. Moreover, he infamously secured a place in club lore by suffering a cup final defeat to Spurs, particularly Ange Postecoglou's version of Tottenham.

The game, however, is not often that simple. Despite the negative press of his favored system, he exits a team in a significantly improved condition than that which he inherited. Months ago, following a win against Brighton, Welbeck reported that teammates were praising their opponents as the finest opposition they had encountered in some time. The performance in a breathtaking four-all stalemate with Bournemouth was equally hopeful and exhilarating.

While it is hard to contest the decision to sack him—especially given it was allegedly triggered by his comments about executives with even worse histories—his downfall was in the end hampered by terrible fortune. Had injuries to vital players not happened at the same time as the loss of other important individuals, he could still be in the role—perhaps thriving.

A New Era Begins

Consequently, Fletcher takes over a relatively solid scenario. Key figures like Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Mbeumo will shortly be back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Just careful management of this gifted roster should be sufficient to secure a top-five finish and, with it, continental competition for next season—most likely in the coveted European Cup.

Burnley's Daunting Task

Vincent Kompany's team, though, won't make things easy. Despite having only a dozen points and having lost 3 of their previous five outings, their performances have often been more impressive than the scorelines show. Boss Scott Parker will certainly have his squad revved up to take the game to opponents who are set to play an starting eleven that has lacked cohesion, deployed in a formation they have gone without for a year or more.

Start time: 8:15 in the evening GMT.