Burnley Take On Manchester United in Crucial Top-Flight Match
The former manager's tenure at Manchester United is considered by many to have been a significant failure. Looking at the numbers, his record is notable for all the negative factors. Throughout the modern top-flight period, no boss at the club has managed a worse points return, or achieved a final position 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 lost a larger share of matches. Furthermore, he notoriously etched his name in United's annals by enduring a loss in a final to Tottenham, specifically Postecoglou's side of Tottenham.
Football, however, is rarely that simple. Despite the negative press of his tactical approach, he exits a club in a much stronger position than the one he took over. Months ago, following a win against Brighton & Hove Albion, Welbeck reported that fellow players were lauding their opponents as the best opposition they had faced in a while. Their play in a exhilarating 4-4 draw with AFC Bournemouth was both promising and exciting.
While it is difficult to contest the termination—especially given it was said to be triggered by his remarks regarding executives with even worse records—his exit was in the end stymied by terrible luck. Had fitness issues for key players not happened at the same time as the unavailability of other essential individuals, he may still be in the position—perhaps thriving.
Fresh Start for United
Therefore, Fletcher steps into a reasonably positive state of affairs. Star figures like Mason Mount, Fernandes, and Mainoo are now fit, while Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo will in the near future be back from the African tournament. Merely sensible husbandry of this gifted group should be enough to secure a top-five finish and, with it, continental football for the coming campaign—in all likelihood in the elite UEFA Champions League.
Burnley's Daunting Test
The home side, however, will not make things easy. Even with having only 12 points and suffering defeats in 3 of their most recent five outings, their displays have often been better than the scorelines show. Manager Scott Parker will undoubtedly have his squad fired up to get after United who are set to start an lineup that has never played together, deployed in a setup they have been denied for more than a year.
Start time: 8.15pm GMT.
