Manchester United have turned to Darren Fletcher to steady the ship following the dismissal of manager Ruben Amorim, whose brief tenure at Old Trafford will be remembered as one of the most statistically dismal in the club's modern history.
A Tenure Defined by Record Lows
By any objective measure, Ruben Amorim's time in charge of Manchester United was a profound failure. In the Premier League era, no United manager has recorded fewer points per game than the Portuguese coach. His team slumped to a 15th-place finish, the lowest in the club's contemporary history.
Looking back further, you have to return to Frank O'Farrell in 1972 to find a United boss who lost a higher percentage of matches. Amorim's reign was also stained by a cup final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur under Ange Postecoglou, a loss no other permanent United manager had ever suffered.
Glimmers of Hope Amidst the Gloom
However, the story is not entirely one of unmitigated disaster. Despite the brutal statistics that made his sacking inevitable, Amorim leaves behind a squad in a better state than the one he inherited. There were fleeting moments of promise.
After a victory over Brighton earlier this season, Seagulls striker Danny Welbeck relayed that his teammates considered United the best opponent they had faced in some time. The thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth showcased the exhilarating, attacking football Amorim aimed to instil.
Many argue his project was ultimately derailed by severe misfortune. A catastrophic run of injuries to key players at a critical juncture proved insurmountable. Without that crisis, he might still be in the job today.
The Fletcher Inheritance and the Burnley Test
Darren Fletcher now steps into the dugout, inheriting a situation with significant potential. He welcomes back a host of fit-again stars including Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes, and Kobbie Mainoo. The returns of Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo from the Africa Cup of Nations will provide a further boost.
With a talented squad at his disposal, sensible management should be enough to secure a fifth-place finish and a likely spot in next season's Champions League. The immediate challenge, however, is a tricky fixture against Burnley.
Though languishing with just 12 points, Burnley's recent performances have been stronger than their results suggest. Under Scott Parker, they will be fiercely motivated to exploit a United side likely fielding an unfamiliar lineup in a formation not used for over a year. This clash is undoubtedly the match of the night in the Premier League.
