TEN HAG NOT HELPED IN EUROPE
Ajax has been a valuable resource for Erik ten Hag during his transfer dealings at Manchester United, but his other former club, Bayern Munich, has not been quite as accommodating.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Ten Hag, as Bayern suffered a shocking defeat at Villa Park on Wednesday, with Aston Villa pulling off one of the Champions League’s biggest surprises. Ten Hag, who managed Bayern's second team between 2013 and 2015, could have done without this surprise victory.
No matter how United fares against Porto in the Europa League, the Sunday trip to Birmingham looms large. Villa Park will be alive with excitement, still celebrating their midweek triumph, reminiscent of their 1982 European Cup final glory. United needs to secure a victory in this fixture to avoid further scrutiny, as anything less would leave them with just two wins in their first seven Premier League matches. This precarious situation has United closer to the relegation zone than the top four, a reality that could become more daunting with another slip-up.
Adding to the pressure is the upcoming two-week international break. A poor result against Villa would leave Ten Hag, the players, and—most importantly—the board with plenty of time to reflect on what has been a disappointing start to the campaign. Before thinking about Sunday, however, Ten Hag has to focus on the immediate challenge: a tricky away game against Porto in Portugal. A setback there would only increase the tension leading into the match against Villa, risking United heading into the international break on a five-game winless streak.
Porto is also feeling the pressure, having lost their opening Europa League fixture to Bodo/Glimt. Another defeat would cast a shadow over their European aspirations, a situation new club president Andre Villas-Boas will be keen to avoid. Porto’s struggles in the domestic league further compound their sense of urgency. For United, the trip to Portugal will be grueling, especially with a day less to recover compared to Villa, who haven't had to travel. It’s a situation that seems to be conspiring against Ten Hag.
Despite their current momentum, Villa has injury concerns ahead of the weekend. Jacob Ramsey, Amadou Onana, and Leon Bailey are doubts after their match against Bayern, while John McGinn is also likely to miss the clash. United, on the other hand, hopes to have Mason Mount back after his head injury against Tottenham, though he is nursing an additional knock. Luke Shaw’s return remains uncertain, and Leny Yoro and Tyrell Malacia are sidelined until at least November.
The United defense has struggled, yet they’ve managed to keep four clean sheets in their last eight games. Ten Hag will use these small positives to motivate his squad ahead of their visit to Villa, a team that could break into the top four with a win. Just six years ago, Villa was fighting in the Championship under Steve Bruce. Now, they stand as an example of where United aspires to be, led by a manager with unquestionable pedigree.
For United and Ten Hag, questions remain about their direction and whether the right choices have been made. Sunday’s match could be pivotal, shaping the narrative for the rest of their season.