It is make-or-break time for Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, who is under enormous pressure to achieve a positive result in Sunday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The Red Devils blew a two-goal advantage before salvaging a late point in a 3-3 Europa League draw with Porto on Thursday, not long after Unai Emery's side produced one of the biggest Champions League upsets so far by beating Bayern Munich.
The eagle eyes of Sir Jim Ratcliffe will reportedly be watching on at Villa Park this weekend, where another chastening result against Manchester United could potentially hammer the final nail into Ten Hag's coffin, mere months after his stay of execution at Old Trafford.
Things were looking up for the under-pressure Dutchman when Man United raced into a two-goal lead against Porto on Thursday night, but a Pepe header and Samu Omorodion brace turned the tide in the Portuguese giants' favour, and only Harry Maguire's late header could save the visitors' bacon.
Shipping three goals for the second match running, Man United's six-goal spectacular in Portugal came after a 3-0 home humiliation against Tottenham Hotspur, who blew Ten Hag's men to smithereens after Bruno Fernandes was incorrectly sent off—a decision that was rectified far too late.
Winless in four matches across all competitions and languishing in a lowly 13th place in the Premier League table, Manchester United have a meagre three victories to show from their opening 10 matches this season, a form that many believe is sack-worthy.
If there is any crumb of comfort for the under-pressure Ten Hag, it is that Man United have recorded back-to-back away clean sheets in the Premier League against Crystal Palace and Southampton; not since March 2021 have they kept three straight shut-outs on the road.
Remember that classic 1982 European Cup final? Well, Aston Villa and Bayern Munich just had a rematch, and boy, did history repeat itself! Villa shut out Harry Kane and his star-studded Bayern squad, just like they did 41 years ago. Unai Emery's modern-day Villa heroes proved lightning can strike twice, even in Bavaria.
Enter Jhon Duran, Villa's secret weapon off the bench. This Colombian dynamo needed just nine minutes to make magic happen. With the legendary Manuel Neuer caught in no-man's land, Duran coolly chipped the ball over him. Cue absolute mayhem at Villa Park!
Villa are on fire in the Champions League, two wins from two games. But it's not just in Europe—they've been crushing it lately, winning six of their last seven across all competitions. The only hiccup? A 2-2 draw with plucky Ipswich Town last weekend. Without that slip-up, they'd be right up there challenging Liverpool for the top spot.
You have to go back to the Martin O'Neill era in 2008-09 to find the last time Villa started a top-flight season this strong. Thirteen points from six games? That's the stuff dreams are made of for Villa fans.
But here's the rub: Manchester United have had Villa's number lately, winning their last four encounters. Remember that heartbreaker in February? Scott McTominay's last-gasp winner silenced Villa Park. If United pull off another win like that on Sunday, it might just buy their under-pressure Dutch manager, Erik ten Hag, a bit more breathing room.
The stage is set for an absolute cracker of a match. Will Villa's European heroics carry over to the Premier League, or will United continue their hex over the Villans? Football fans, get your popcorn ready!
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