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The former manager's tenure at Manchester United has been labeled a major failure. Statistically speaking, his results is notable for all the poor reasons. In the contemporary football age, not a single Man Utd boss has managed a lower points average, or secured a league finish as disappointing as 15th in the table. Looking deeper into history, you have to go back to the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who lost a higher percentage of games. Additionally, he infamously secured a place in United's annals by experiencing a cup final defeat to Spurs, specifically Ange Postecoglou's side of the North London club.

Football, however, is rarely so black and white. In spite of the scrutiny of his tactical approach, he leaves behind a club in a far better position than that which he found. Months ago, following a win against Brighton, the striker Welbeck reported that fellow players were hailing their opponents as the most impressive side they had faced in a while. The performance in a breathtaking 4-4 draw with AFC Bournemouth was both encouraging and exciting.

While it is tough to contest the dismissal—especially given it was reportedly triggered by his comments about executives with more miserable histories—his downfall was in the end hindered by atrocious fortune. If injuries to crucial personnel not occurred alongside the unavailability of other important individuals, he might still be in the role—perhaps succeeding.

Fletcher Takes the Reins

As a result, Darren Fletcher inherits a fairly positive situation. Key figures like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are now fit, while Amad Diallo and Mbeumo will in the near future rejoin from the African tournament. Merely careful husbandry of this skilled group should be enough to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, continental football for the coming campaign—most likely in the coveted European Cup.

Burnley's Formidable Task

Vincent Kompany's team, though, are unlikely to be a pushover. Although boasting only a dozen points and suffering defeats in 3 of their previous five matches, their performances have frequently been more impressive than the results show. Boss Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his team fired up to attack opponents who are expected to start an starting eleven that has never played together, arranged in a setup they have gone without for a year or more.

Start time: 20:15 GMT.