Erik ten Hag urged his senior players to step up when Manchester United host Aston Villa and look to end a run of four games without a goal. The problems for United mounted when they slipped eight points off the top four and dropped to eighth after losing 2-0 at West Ham on Saturday, and Ten Hag’s future is in the spotlight after Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed a deal to buy 25% of the club on Christmas Eve.
While United have been in flux there has been no structure to sack the manager and Ratcliffe will decide whether to keep faith with the Dutchman after a miserable first half of the season. United are out of Europe after finishing bottom of their Champions League group. Sir Dave Brailsford, the sporting director at Ratcliffe’s company Ineos, will hold discussions with key United personnel before making decisions, including about Ten Hag.
