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The former manager's spell at Manchester United was widely regarded as a significant failure. Statistically speaking, his performance stands out for all the wrong factors. Throughout the contemporary football age, not a single Man Utd boss has recorded a lower points average, or achieved a league finish as poor as the 15th spot. Delving further back, you have to revisit the manager Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a manager at the club who lost a greater proportion of games. Additionally, he notoriously secured a place in United's annals by enduring a cup final defeat to Spurs, specifically the current iteration of the North London club.

Life, but, is not often so straightforward. Despite the negative press of his 3-4-2-1 formation, he exits a squad in a far better condition than the one he found. In a prior match this term, following a victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, Welbeck shared that his colleagues were lauding their opponents as the finest opposition they had played against in a long time. The play in a thrilling high-scoring tie with AFC Bournemouth was both hopeful and exciting.

Even though it is hard to contest the termination—especially given it was said to be sparked by his remarks regarding bosses with even worse histories—his downfall was finally stymied by awful luck. If injuries to vital personnel not happened at the same time as the loss of other important figures, he could remain in the position—possibly succeeding.

Fresh Start for United

As a result, Darren Fletcher takes over a relatively positive state of affairs. Star players like Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future be back from the Africa Cup of Nations. Merely careful husbandry of this talented squad is expected to be enough to guarantee a fifth-place finish and, with it, European competition for the following term—most likely in the elite UEFA Champions League.

The Clarets' Formidable Task

Vincent Kompany's team, but, will not make things easy. Although boasting only 12 points and suffering defeats in three of their most recent five games, their displays have frequently been more impressive than the outcomes show. Manager Scott Parker will certainly have his side fired up to attack United who are likely to start an starting eleven that has lacked cohesion, set up in a system they have been denied for a year or more.

Kick-off: 8.15pm GMT.