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The former manager's time at Old Trafford has been labeled a major disappointment. By any measure, his results is remarkable for all the wrong factors. During the Premier League era, no United manager has recorded a worse points return, nor achieved a league finish as poor as 15th in the table. Examining the archives, you have to revisit Frank O'Farrell in the early seventies to find a United boss who was defeated in a larger share of fixtures. Furthermore, he infamously secured a place in club lore by suffering a loss in a final to Tottenham, namely Postecoglou's version of Spurs.

Football, but, is rarely that simple. Regardless of the negative press of his favored system, the Portuguese manager leaves behind a squad in a significantly improved position than that which he found. In a prior match this term, following a win against Brighton, Welbeck relayed that teammates were lauding their opponents as the most impressive team they had played against in a long time. Their football in a breathtaking high-scoring tie with AFC Bournemouth was both encouraging and thrilling.

Even though it is difficult to dispute the decision to sack him—particularly given it was said to be caused by his criticism of superiors with poorer histories—his downfall was in the end hindered by awful fortune. Had fitness issues for vital stars not occurred alongside the loss of other pivotal members, he might still be in the position—perhaps succeeding.

A New Era Begins

As a result, Darren Fletcher takes over a reasonably positive situation. Key players like Mason Mount, Fernandes, and Mainoo are available again, while Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future be back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Simply careful stewardship of this skilled group should be enough to secure a top-five finish and, with it, continental football for the coming campaign—most likely in the elite Champions League.

The Clarets' Daunting Task

Vincent Kompany's team, though, won't make things easy. Despite boasting only twelve points and suffering defeats in 3 of their previous five outings, their displays have frequently been better than the results indicate. Boss Parker will surely have his team pumped up to get after opponents who are set to field an starting eleven that has not had time to gel, arranged in a formation they have not used for more than a year.

Start time: 8.15pm GMT.