Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United reign could be over by 4 pm on Sunday. The 3-0 defeat to Tottenham last week sparked widespread demands for his sacking, and even the manager’s usual calmness can’t conceal the gravity of the situation.
Ten Hag vowed to make a success of the season, but United’s chaotic display against FC Porto in the Europa League only intensified the scrutiny. Trailing 3-2 and down to 10 men after Bruno Fernandes’s sending-off, United staged a late rally to snatch a 3-3 draw. Harry Maguire’s equaliser papered over the cracks, but the manager’s long-term prospects remain precarious.
“Don’t judge us in this moment,” he urged. “Judge us at the end of the season.”
However, Ten Hag might not last that long. The weekend trip to Aston Villa could be his last game in the United dugout.
Rumours suggest he has two games to save his skin. After scraping a draw against Porto, United face an in-form Villa side fresh from stunning Bayern Munich. Unai Emery’s team have won four of their six games, notching 12 goals, with Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins in blistering form.
History is on United’s side, though, with Villa securing just five Premier League wins against the Red Devils, losing 40 times – including the last four meetings. Yet, current form points to a defeat for the Red Devils.
If Ten Hag’s side are beaten, it may well signal the end of the road for the under-fire boss. The pressure is mounting, and only a convincing display can temporarily alleviate the scrutiny.
Will Villa Park prove the final destination for Ten Hag’s Old Trafford journey?
