If there was ever a time for Erik ten Hag to settle on his best Manchester United team, it’s in this afternoon’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa. Ten Hag has publicly cut a relaxed figure, but he will understand that another below-par result could leave his position untenable heading into the October international break.
United were improved from their humiliation against Tottenham in Thursday’s 3-3 draw at Porto, but as the score suggests, the visitors were far from assured.
Express Sport picks out three changes Ten Hag must make to give his side the best chance of leaving Villa Park with a surprise victory.
Matthijs de Ligt
Neither Matthijs de Ligt nor Lisandro Martinez could have any complaints about dropping to the bench after a wildly dysfunctional performance against Porto.
Harry Maguire was introduced from the bench and rescued Ten Hag from another defeat with his headed stoppage-time equaliser.
The former United captain deserves to reclaim a starting spot, and De Ligt, as the right-sided centre-back, is the natural candidate to make way.
Maguire has experience playing on the left, though, which could leave Martinez vulnerable to losing his place.
But the Argentine is one of Ten Hag’s most expensive United signings, and it would be damning to see him snubbed in such a decisive fixture.
Casemiro
Casemiro returned to the starting line-up at his old club, Porto, and didn’t do himself any harm, completing 51 of 58 passes and creating four chances.
But he may not have reclaimed his place if Kobbie Mainoo wasn’t ruled out through a knock suffered in the Spurs defeat.
Ten Hag is optimistic that Mainoo will be in contention for the trip to Villa, and Christian Eriksen has been preferred as his partner in recent weeks.
That would leave Casemiro as the midfielder to make way, either for Eriksen or Manuel Ugarte, who endured a troublesome first Premier League start against Spurs.
Amad
Amad hasn’t done anything to necessarily deserve to drop back out for Alejandro Garnacho, but the Argentine has been Ten Hag’s most productive attacker this term.
Marcus Rashford is almost certain to start on the left after being withdrawn at half-time against Porto for ‘rotational’ purposes.
So Garnacho could come in on the right to make up a front three with Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund, who should keep his place ahead of Joshua Zirkzee.
It was United’s best front three last season and could offer Ten Hag goals when he needs them most this afternoon.
