Manchester United

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes under-pressure Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains a winner - despite his troubles at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman takes United to Villa Park on Sunday after Harry Maguire's last-gasp leveller rescued a 3-3 draw in their Europa League game at Porto on Thursday.

United blew a 2-0 lead to trail 3-2, which looked like pushing Ten Hag closer to the brink.

The visitors are 13th in the Premier League after winning two of their six games, with Villa - who beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday - fifth.

Emery said: "I respect him a lot. I have to respect him because he has beaten me more than I’ve beaten him. He's a winner - they won the FA Cup. He is a very good coach. The demands there are huge demands but he is doing a process.

"We won the first match when I arrived here but since we have lost four matches against them. They are a winning team and they have an experienced coach and experienced players. The club is usually a winning club.

"They are not getting consistently good results in the Premier League but, playing only one match, they can exploit their capacity and skill.

"I will prepare for the match more than how I prepared against Bayern."

Emery, who could be without Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey after they came off in the win over Bayern, has also warned his players they cannot relax despite Wednesday's victory.

"To be consistent in the Premier League is the first objective," he said.

"We enjoyed Wednesday a lot. We have six points [in the Champions League] but there is no change in my mind. The ambition I have in this club, since I arrived here, is the same.

"We are getting a lot of success sooner than I was thinking. Of course, now my expectation is to keep it. My example is to keep demanding and don't relax. Everyone relaxes when they get comfortable and has success.

"Now I will want to win on Sunday."

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Chief football news reporter Simon Stone is answering your Manchester United questions.

Ben asked: "What are your thoughts on Bruno Fernandes? Everyone knows he is a great player. But I don't think he would get near the Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool first teams because he loses the ball 34 times per game. The system means nothing when you have your captain and third midfielder having no discipline."

Simon answered: "This is a tricky one. Bruno gets questioned a lot but he is a leader - and United don't have that many of them - and their most creative force. I agree that he sometimes lacks discipline. That is why I thought the decision to use him as a false nine in the FA Cup final was an excellent one because he doesn't wreck your defensive shape if he gets in the wrong position. I thought that may hint at what was to come this season but Ten Hag doubled down on his preference to have a striker by signing Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna.

"Bruno has not played well this season and I had thought his red card against Tottenham would force United into another tactic during his three-game ban. That position has now changed - but maybe Ten Hag will look at something against Fenerbahce later this month. It is definitely a problem and there are no easy answers."

Read the rest of Simon's Q&A and the latest football news

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Chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering your questions on Manchester United.

James asked: "Why is it that a player like Matthijs de Ligt, once one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe, starts playing for Manchester United and looks very, very average. The same thing happened to Raphael Varane. It is just baffling."

Simon answered: "There are two separate issues here. Varane was an outstanding player but his body wasn’t capable of coping with the rigours of the Premier League. Maybe United should have known that. De Ligt has not developed into the player he seemed destined to become when he skippered Ajax to within a minute of the Champions League final in 2019.

"I have spoken to coaches who have worked with him who have suggested there are flaws in his game that need to be eradicated. That is a worry because it feels as though Ten Hag wanted De Ligt to partner Leny Yoro as part of his first-choice central defensive partnership and, as the more experienced player, De Ligt should be guiding the Frenchman round the pitch, not the other way round."

Read more of Simon's Q&A and the latest football news

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Aston Villa have won just one of their past 25 Premier League home games against Manchester United with the victory coming in Unai Emery's first game in charge in November 2022.

United have won 40 Premier League games against Villa, with only the Old trafford side beating Everton (41) more often in the competition's history.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is calling for patience with his side struggling in the early stages of the season.

United needed a late goal from Harry Maguire to rescue a 3-3 draw against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday but Ten Hag says more time is needed to help summer signings and new staff settle in at Old Trafford.

"I appointed new staff, we bought new young players and we have to integrate them," he explained. "Manuel Ugarte was one of the top players we wanted to sign this season but he needs time to integrate.

"I know in top football you don't get time - they have to perform immediately - but that's not always realistic. He has to get used to his role, his team-mates and the intensity of the Premier League. We need time."

Rasmus Hojlund made his first start of the season in Portugal and Ten Hag believes the Denmark striker's return to fitness will be a big boost to the side before the trip to high-flying Aston Villa on Sunday.

"I was very pleased with the return of Hojlund," he said. "We couldn't play him in the first two months of the season.

"Hopefully he is now fit, keeps improving his fitness levels and has a consistent season where he can help us. Then, this team can grow and improve and we'll see where we end."

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Manchester United’s Treble-winning midfielder Jesper Blomqvist says "it is really hard to watch" his former club in the present.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live following the draw at Porto in the Europa League on Thursday, Blomqvist said: "It is a strength when you are one man down to get an equaliser as it shows a bit of character - but I can't really see it helping Erik ten Hag [in the long run].

"Porto is a tough place to go but you still expect more from Manchester United. I also don't think you can look at it as just one game. They have one win out of 10 in the Europa League and that has to be looked at. That is not good enough.

"It is really tricky when everything starts going against you as it is hard to get team spirit. But a lot of these players have been recruited by Ten Hag so they should be working really hard in order for him to stay.

"A lot has been said by Ten Hag in recent weeks, but he is running out of excuses."

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BBC chief football news reporter Simon Stone has been answering reader's questions on all things Premier League.

Katy asked: Marcus Rashford was fantastic in the first half against Porto so are people going to climb off his back any time soon do we think?"

Simon said: "Hiya Katy. I feels as though Rashford is one of those players people like to criticise for what they don’t do, rather than what they do. The movement and control that carried him into the penalty area for United’s opener last night was sensational. Not many players are capable of that and it is why I would always want Rashford in my team.

"I do think there are issues in terms of closing opponents down and leading the press. He is moving into the prime of his career so there can be no excuses on that score any more.

"But he remains an excellent player and when the confidence is flowing, he is very difficult to stop."

Read the rest of Simon's Q&A, as well as the latest football news, on our daily live page

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone is answering your Manchester United related questions.

PS asked: Hi Simon, the two people most responsible for hiring and firing managers at Manchester United, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Dan Ashworth, were presumably not part of the decision to stick with Erik ten Hag as they joined after.

Do you think it would have been a different decision if those two were involved? And would it have a bearing on Ten Hag's future now?

Simon replied: "When I – along with a few other journalists – spoke to Berrada and Ashworth on the morning of the Liverpool game, they said they played no part in the decision to keep Ten Hag but were supportive of it. We have no choice other than to take those comments at face value.

The key issue is who would have replaced Ten Hag? United resolved there was no-one around who was better. Would Berrada and Ashworth have unearthed someone United had not already looked at? That seems doubtful to me.

A senior executive at another Premier League club told me in the summer that no managerial appointment was without risk. You can only do your due diligence, make what you feel is an honest decision and hope it works out. Ten Hag had just won the FA Cup, thrillingly, against Manchester City.

There is no guarantee anyone else would have done any better this season.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone is answering your Manchester United questions.

Jason asked: Jurgen Klopp is available - could Manchester United bring him out of retirement?

Simon replied: Hiya Jason. Is this a serious question? There is an absolutely legitimate argument about why United didn’t work harder to get Klopp when he was at Borussia Dortmund because he always struck me as having the perfect personality to be a Manchester United manager, which is a tough job for anyone.

However, he went to Liverpool, one of the greatest clubs in the world, and built his legacy in English football there. Why would he risk his reputation as a manager and destroy it as a club legend by moving to Old Trafford?

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We asked for your views on Manchester United's 3-3 draw with Porto in the Europa League as Harry Maguire's stoppage-time header rescued a point for Erik ten Hag's side.

Here are some of your comments:

Chris: I have been a Man Utd supporter since 1960. Whatever the results tonight and Sunday, Ten Hag must go . The criticisms levelled at the team's performances are so damning that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has no option. Many of the players are to blame but only a new coach can bring some degree of consistency.

Mark: Was Bruno Fernandes so disappointed that his red card against Spurs was rescinded he had to get another? As the captain, he’s supposed to set an example and be an inspiration, not a liability.

Andy: Dreadful United team full of overpriced and overrated players Ten Hag has bought.

Steven: Never mind a rescued point. How many goals' head start do they need? Simply can't defend and no excuse. It's a lucky draw from a commanding position. Dire.

Des: Hopefully defeat by Aston Villa will be the final straw for Ten Hag. Tactically clueless. Clearly is a poor motivator of players. Chronically poor performance yet again with only a great header by Maguire at the end making for a slightly less embarrassing humiliation than it would have been.

Richie: The final throw of the dice this weekend for Ten Hag.

Throughout Friday morning, our chief football news reporter and Manchester United expert Simon Stone is answering your questions.

Head over to our live news page to submit yours and see what he has to say.

Manchester United's 3-3 draw with Porto dominates the back pages of Friday's newspapers.

Defender Harry Maguire's late equaliser gets manager Erik ten Hag "out of jail" but the pressure continues to mount on the United boss.

Image source, Daily Telegraph

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Thomas Tuchel and Massimiliano Allegri feature high on Manchester United's shortlist, as they consider sacking manager Erik ten Hag. (Teamtalk), external

Meanwhile, United are preparing a bid of about £34m for 25-year-old Benfica and Turkey winger Kerem Akturkoglu. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Barcelona and Juventus are monitoring the situation of 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho, with Manchester United believed to value the player at £50m. (Sun), external

Finally, Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be in attendance for Manchester United's Premier League game at Aston Villa on Sunday, as speculation over manager Erik ten Hag's future increases. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Mark Ogden, Senior writer for ESPN, reacting to Manchester United's draw with Porto on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is hard to say he [Ten Hag] put on Harry Maguire to score a goal? It rolled for Erik ten Hag tonight - he got lucky.

"When we have a bit of reflection on this - it was basketball style.

"Did he take off Matthijs de Ligt and Leandro Martinez to save them for Aston Villa? They looked miles off it.

"If you want to have a positive spin on things then it shows Manchester United's players are fighting for the cause and are not giving up, but it depends how you want to look at it.

"Harry Maguire has been dropped from the England squad today and he has turned a bad day into a good one."

On Erik ten Hag's future: "I'll be surprised if he lost his job [after Aston Villa at the weekend], on the basis that the money is an issue.

"Manchester United are hoping he turns it round. He is obviously walking a tightrope."

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson added: "The question marks will get bigger.

"The international break will buy him time, but there is no natural replacement."

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, speaking to TNT Sports: "We started the game very good, we dominated, scored two goals then we lost control.

"The start was good, the middle was not good, then we finished very good. It's a tough place to go, we're coming back from 3-2 and get the equaliser. The team has a strong character, but the middle part we have to improve.

"We need to be better on the ball, keep switching. We had good players, a good plan. We have to defend better. We had three clean sheets not a long time ago so we can defend very good, but we have to go back to those habits."

On Marcus Rashford coming off at half-time: "We have to rotate. Garnacho, we didn't start him, but he had a great game not only Sunday but the whole season. We go quickly with a turnaround to [Aston] Villa and they have had a day longer to recover and we have an away game."

On his job being under pressure: "We will get there. Don't judge us in this moment, judge us at the end of the season. We are in the process, we will improve. We have had two seasons where we have reached finals, we will continue and fight.

"You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team. The players are together, they have a strong spirit and they want to achieve. We have a good mentality but in some defending parts we have to step up."

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Manchester United goalscorer Harry Maguire, speaking to TNT Sports: "After every game we analyse and speak among ourselves.

"The manager spoke, some members of staff spoke and the players spoke. When you get 2-0 away from home you have to be a little bit more solid and there were far too many gaps. Too many crosses were coming into the box for sure and they ultimately punished us for it.

"When you go 2-0 up and then concede, does the belief go a bit with the boys that we can go on and win? It's something we need to focus on. It's happening far too many times.

"Every time you concede you have to reset and go back to the game plan which got us in the lead. It's something we need to improve. If we want to be successful this season we can't keep conceding two goals."

On manager Erik ten Hag being under pressure: "I've played for this club for six years, I know how it works. When you go on a bad spell players come under pressure and also the manager does. He's experienced enough and been at this club long enough so I'm sure he knows how to deal with it.

"It's part of the privilege you have playing for this club."

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Since Erik ten Hag joined the club in 2022, no Premier League team has conceded three or more goals in a match more times in all competitions than Manchester United (24).

The Red Devils are also winless in their past five matches in European competitions (D3 L2) despite leading by two or more goals in three of them.

In fact, the side have now failed to win each of the past four occasions they have led by two goals in a European match (D3 L1).

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Harry Maguire rescued a dramatic draw for 10-man Manchester United after they had surrendered a two-goal lead - and had Bruno Fernandes sent off - at Porto in the Europa League.

Follow reaction and read the match report