Erik ten Hag faces another pivotal moment in his Manchester United tenure as the Red Devils head to Birmingham on Sunday for a mouthwatering Premier League clash with an in-form Aston Villa.
Manchester United have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning the last four club encounters, including a 2-1 triumph at Villa Park last February thanks to Scott McTominay's late strike. A similar result on Sunday could buy Ten Hag some much-needed time, but Aston Villa's current form suggests this could be a tougher test than usual.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa are riding high after their midweek heroics. Emery's side delivered a huge 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich, evoking memories of the 1982 European Cup final between the two clubs. Colombian striker Jhon Duran, who once again came on as a substitute, scored the decisive goal after expertly lobbing Manuel Neuer, sending the Villa Park faithful into raptures.
Not for the first time, Unai Emery's men find themselves in blistering form, having won six of their last seven matches in all competitions. The only recent setback was a 2-2 draw at newly-promoted Ipswich Town last weekend, but they have still collected 13 points from their opening six League games - a feat they haven't achieved since 2008-09, under Martin O'Neill.
However, Wednesday's victory came at a cost. Jacob Ramsey suffered a groin injury in the first half, while Amadou Onana was substituted after an hour due to a hamstring issue. Both players are doubtful for Sunday's clash with Manchester United, though Emery is more optimistic about Onana's availability. Leon Bailey, who replaced Ramsey, was also forced off later in the game and is questionable.
Aston Villa are still without long-term absentees Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn. With Jacob Ramsey potentially out, Emery could pair Ollie Watkins with Jhon Duran upfront as the Villans aim to continue their hot streak.
The Red Devils enter the match on the back of a disappointing 3-3 draw with FC Porto at Estadio Do Dragao in the Europa League, where they squandered a two-goal lead before rescuing a late point. Things had looked promising for Erik ten Hag's men, with a quickfire two-goal lead against the Dragons.
However, Pepe's header and a brace from Samu Omorodion saw the Portuguese side turn the game on its head. It took a late Harry Maguire header to salvage a point, but the defensive frailties are glaring. Conceding three goals for the second consecutive game came after a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, where a controversial red card for Bruno Fernandes later rescinded compounded United's misery.
Erik ten Hag's side are now winless in four matches across all competitions and they sit 13th in the Premier League ahead of this weekend's round. With just three wins from their first 10 competitive games this season, many are questioning whether the Dutch manager has the ability to turn things around. Still, there is a silver lining: the Red Devils have recorded back-to-back clean sheets away from Old Trafford in the league, against Crystal Palace and Southampton. Another shutout this weekend would mark three consecutive away clean sheets for the first time since March 2021.
Adding to the drama, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to be in the stands at Villa Park. A poor result against Villa could heighten the pressure on Ten Hag, whose position at Old Trafford is already under intense scrutiny after a turbulent start to the season.
In terms of team news, captain Bruno Fernandes is available for selection after his suspension was overturned, even though the Portuguese playmaker was also sent off during United's Europa League challenge in midweek.
Marcus Rashford, after a strong first-half performance in Portugal on Thursday night, is likely to return to the starting lineup alongside Alejandro Garnacho, with Amad Diallo expected to drop out.
Even though he is yet to score since he bagged the late winner in United's opening day 1-0 win over Fulham, summer signing Joshua Zirkzee is once again favored to lead the line at Villa Park.
Elsewhere, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw, and summer signing Leny Yoro remain sidelined, while Mason Mount's status is uncertain following a knock and a head injury against Tottenham. Kobbie Mainoo, who was also forced off against Spurs, missed Thursday's game but could make his return at Villa Park, possibly from the bench.
In stark contrast to United's latest disappointment, Unai Emery's Aston Villa made headlines earlier in the week with a stunning Champions League victory over German giants Bayern Munich, solidifying their growing status in European football.
Despite Manchester United's historical edge in this tie, Aston Villa's current momentum makes them favorites to secure a hard-fought victory, which could possibly spell the end for Ten Hag at Old Trafford.
With the fixture congestion weighing on both sides, The Villans should have the fresher legs, having played at home on Wednesday while United traveled to Portugal on Thursday. Emery's well-drilled Villa side are in excellent form and will fancy their chances against a disjointed Manchester United outfit still searching for consistency.
