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The former manager's spell at Manchester United is considered by many to have been a major failure. Looking at the numbers, his performance stands out for all the poor causes. During the contemporary football age, no United manager has achieved fewer points per game, nor secured a league finish as disappointing as 15th place. Examining the archives, you have to return to the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who was defeated in a larger share of fixtures. Furthermore, he notoriously carved a niche in club lore by suffering a loss in a final to Tottenham Hotspur, particularly the current version of Spurs.

The game, however, is rarely so straightforward. In spite of the negative press of his favored system, the Portuguese manager departs from a club in a much stronger condition than the one he inherited. In a prior match this term, following a victory over Brighton, Welbeck relayed that teammates were lauding their opponents as the most impressive side they had faced in some time. Their performance in a thrilling high-scoring tie with Bournemouth was both hopeful and thrilling.

Although it is tough to contest the dismissal—especially given it was said to be sparked by his criticism of superiors with more miserable histories—his demise was finally hampered by atrocious fortune. Had injuries to key players not happened at the same time as the absence of other important members, he could remain in the role—maybe thriving.

Fresh Start for United

Consequently, Darren Fletcher takes over a fairly stable scenario. Important figures like Mason Mount, Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo are available again, while Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future rejoin from the Africa Cup of Nations. Just prudent stewardship of this skilled group ought to be adequate to secure a top-five finish and, with it, European football for the coming campaign—most likely in the elite European Cup.

Burnley's Daunting Task

Vincent Kompany's team, though, will not roll over. Despite boasting only 12 points and suffering defeats in three of their previous five games, their displays have frequently been stronger than the results suggest. Head coach Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his squad pumped up to take the game to the visitors who are set to field an XI that has lacked cohesion, deployed in a setup they have gone without for more than a year.

Match begins: 8.15pm GMT.