Without a win for five games
©IMAGO
Manchester United took a point from Champions League participants Aston Villa and could not win again. Coach Erik ten Hag continues to fall under criticism and worsens the Red Devils’ negative start from the previous season. In 2023/24 his team collected nine points in the first seven games, this year it is one point less – the record champions have never been worse after the seventh matchday since the introduction of the Premier League in 1992/93.
Against Aston Villa, Manchester failed to score their own goal for the third time in a row in the league, and it was the fifth game in a row without a win in all competitions. Nevertheless, ten Hag looks at the positive things. “We kept a clean sheet for the fourth time this season. You could see that we were very well organized and stuck together well. We had good character and a good spirit in the team. Determined and resilient,” said the Dutchman (quoted via Fabrizio Romano) after the final whistle.
Given their past performances, a point at Aston Villa is not a bitter disappointment. Given the transfer loss of 115 million euros last summer, the Red Devils are once again running behind their own demands. Since ten Hag took over in the summer of 2022, around 660 million euros have been invested in new additions. The current squad cost a total of 913 million euros – only the Chelsea and Manchester City teams were put together for higher fees.
United will continue in the next few weeks against FC Brentford, Fenerbahce and West Ham United. If these games also end without a win, ten Hag will probably have to worry about his job. Thomas Tuchel and assistant Ruud van Nistelrooy were recently considered candidates.
