Manchester United’s Dutch manager Erik ten Hag faced more pressure on Sunday as his team’s winless run extended to five games with a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. Despite Bruno Fernandes hitting the crossbar with a free-kick, United have failed to score in their last three Premier League matches and currently sit in 14th place, having won just two of their first seven league games of the season. Villa, on the other hand, missed the opportunity to move into the top four after their midweek victory against Bayern Munich.
Following a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham, Ten Hag’s job security was once again questioned. The 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League did little to help his case as United squandered a two-goal lead before Harry Maguire’s late equalizer. In response, Ten Hag made changes to the starting lineup, dropping Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt in favor of Maguire and Jonny Evans. Despite Villa’s recent success against Bayern, both teams failed to impress in a lackluster match that ended in a draw.
Ten Hag’s decision to substitute Marcus Rashford at halftime in the Porto game sparked controversy, as the winger had been influential in the early stages of the match. Despite Rashford’s threatening efforts, including a powerful strike that forced a save from Villa’s Emi Martinez, United struggled to break the deadlock. Defensive injuries forced Ten Hag to make further changes at halftime, with Maguire and Noussair Mazraoui being replaced by De Ligt and Victor Lindelof.
Rashford’s luck seemed to run out as he narrowly avoided a red card for multiple offenses. Fernandes, who had his red card rescinded from a previous match, came closest to scoring with a free-kick that hit the crossbar. Emery turned to Villa’s super sub, Jhon Duran, in hopes of securing a victory, but neither team could find the breakthrough. Despite a late chance for Villa to snatch the win, the match ended in a stalemate.
United’s underwhelming start to the season, with only eight points from their opening seven league games, is their worst since 1989. With co-owner Jim Ratcliffe in attendance at Villa Park, the United hierarchy faces a decision on whether to stick with Ten Hag or opt for a change during the upcoming international break. The pressure is mounting for Ten Hag, and the next few weeks will be crucial in determining his future at the club.
