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The former manager's spell at Manchester United has been labeled a significant letdown. Looking at the numbers, his results stands out for all the wrong reasons. During the contemporary football age, not a single Man Utd boss has managed a lower points average, nor achieved a final position as poor as the 15th spot. Delving further back, you have to return to the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who was defeated in a higher percentage of games. Furthermore, he infamously carved a niche in United's annals by experiencing a loss in a final to Spurs, namely the current iteration of Spurs.

Football, but, is rarely that simple. Regardless of the negative press of his tactical approach, the Portuguese manager exits a club in a significantly improved state than that which he found. Months ago, following a defeat of Brighton & Hove Albion, Danny Welbeck shared that fellow players were lauding United as the best side they had faced in a while. Their performance in a breathtaking high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was both encouraging and exciting.

Although it is hard to argue against the decision to sack him—especially given it was reportedly triggered by his remarks regarding executives with more miserable track records—his demise was in the end hindered by terrible luck. Had fitness issues for key stars not occurred alongside the unavailability of other pivotal individuals, he could remain in the position—maybe even.

Fresh Start for United

Therefore, Fletcher inherits a reasonably positive scenario. Important figures like Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are back to fitness, while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future be back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Simply careful stewardship of this talented roster should be enough to secure a fifth-place finish and, with it, European competition for the following term—in all likelihood in the prestigious European Cup.

The Clarets' Daunting Test

Vincent Kompany's team, though, won't make things easy. Even with having only 12 points and losing three of their most recent five matches, their showings have at times been more impressive than the outcomes suggest. Boss Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his side fired up to take the game to United who are set to field an XI that has lacked cohesion, deployed in a formation they have not used for more than a year.

Kick-off: 8.15pm GMT.