Tuesday, November 5, 2024

As it happened: Sir Jim Ratcliffe on Ten Hag’s future plus Premier League news conferences

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Postpublished at 14:56 British Summer Time

Aston Villa v Man Utd (Sun, 14:00 BST)

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes under presser Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains a winner – despite his troubles at Old Trafford.

The Dutchman takes United to Villa Park on Sunday after Harry Maguire’s last-gasp leveller rescued a 3-3 draw in their Europa League game at Porto on Thursday.

United blew a 2-0 lead to trail 3-2 which looked like pushing ten Hag closer to the brink.

The visitors are 13th in the Premier League, winning two of their six games, with Villa – who beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday – fifth.

Emery said: “I respect him a lot, I have to respect him because he has beaten me more than I’ve beaten him. He’s a winner, they won the FA Cup. He is a very good coach. The demands there are huge demands but he is doing a process.

“We won the first match when I arrived here but since we have lost four matches against them. They are a winning team, they have an experienced coach, experienced players and the club is usually a winning club.

“They are still being winners, they won the FA Cup and they are not getting consistent good results in the Premier League but playing only one match they can exploit their capacity and skill.

“I respect them and I will prepare for the match more than how I prepared against Bayern.”

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