A fired-up Youri Tielemans might yet prove Man United's undoing. — Reuters
THE talk about Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s tenure has been unending.
A consensus pointed to a sacking should ten Hag fail against Porto, whom they played in the Europa League on Thursday, and Aston Villa, with whom they clash in the Premier League at Villa Park tomorrow.
However, even that might not be the case, although the international break, which follows this weekend’s action, could indeed throw up quite a few scenarios.
Villa are more than likely to serve as a big test to a Man United squad that, despite huge reserves of quality players, looks like an ordinary team that can get beaten by more than a handful of English clubs.
Indeed, the Red Devils, for all their talk about winning the league and doing all sorts of stuff prior to the season’s start, are languishing in 13th place and look nothing like a club about to win the title.
If anything, this lot will do well – on current form – to finish in the top six. That’s how terribly awry it’s been for them lately.
The inclusion of club captain Bruno Fernandes will be a welcome news for the under-fire Dutch manager.
The Portuguese midfielder had his red card from the sorry defeat at the hands of Tottenham last weekend overturned by the English FA in midweek.
That decision was spot-on. No two ways about it.
Fernandes, who wears his heart on his sleeve, is perhaps the only player alongside Diogo Dalot and Andre Onana at Man United who could be singled out for giving it his all.
Against a Villa side who can mix it up with the big boys – as vidily illustrated in midweek when they beat German giants Bayern Munich in a Champions League clash – and are fifth on the Premiership standings, Man United will need to be focused.
Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans might be the home side’s player who garners the most attention from the visitors, given his outstanding performances so far this season.
Man United have looked anything but solid since the start of the season, and that is despite them spending something in the region of US$230mil during the August transfer window.
Villa’s boss, Spanish manager Unai Emery, for his part, will sense they can pull this one off.
In fact, the way Villa began this campaign, they will believe they can take down anyone.
What might further prod Emery’s side tomorrow would be knowing that they missed a golden chance to move into the joint top spot last weekend.
With so much riding on tomorrow’s fixture, more so for ten Hag and his squad, this fixture has the potential of being a real cracker.
