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Erik ten Hag takes his Manchester United team to Aston Villa today knowing that a defeat could force the club’s part-owners, Ineos, to remove him from his post.
Fans, pundits and the media are talking about little else going into the game, with attention on the football itself taking an unusually distant back seat.
Ineos owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who will be at the game, refused to assuage the rumours when interviewed in the week. He will be joined by his executive management team and majority owner Joel Glazer on Tuesday for a routine meeting that may by necessity turn into an execution.
The fact that this is the last game before a two-week international break has been touted as adding greater significance, as these breaks are typically associated with managerial changes.
However, a convincing victory against the Villans will almost certainly save the manager’s bacon, at least for a few weeks.
Weighing in Ten Hag’s favour is United’s favourable record at Villa Park. Other than a 3-1 defeat in 2022, when Jacob Ramsey scored at both ends, you have to go back to the season after United won the treble, 1999/20, to find a Villa victory on home turf.
In fact, United have only lost five times to the Birmingham club in the Premier League. But Unai Emery’s men will have added determination to improve that record today.
Their confidence is high after bringing a seven-year Bayern Munich run to an end in midweek, being the first team to beat the German giants in a group stage match of the Champions League.
Another big talking point ahead of the game is who will partner Lisandro Martinez at centre back. New signing Matthijs de Ligt has clearly been Ten Hag’s preferred option so far this season, but a dire performance against FC Porto on Thursday must leave the manager with a question mark over his countryman’s name.
What’s more, the man who replaced him in that match, Harry Maguire, emerged the hero after powering an injury time equaliser into the back of Diogo Costa’s net.
It gives Ten Hag a dilemma. Dropping De Ligt so soon into his United career would be interpreted by many as indicative of another “flop” signing, and will do nothing for the Dutch international’s confidence. On the other hand, with his head on the chopping block, the manager can’t afford to be patient waiting for a new player to bed in.
On the other hand, it is not as if he has demonstrated much faith in Maguire either, with both De Ligt and Leny Yoro bought in the summer to replace the England man in the right centre back role.
This crucial decision lies at the heart at what could be a fateful day for the United manager and a sliding doors moment for the club.
Featured image Shaun Botterill via Getty Images
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