Ten Hag future up within the air after Man United attracts at Villa; Tottenham collapses in 3-2 loss

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes reacts after the match
| Picture Credit score: Reuters

For Erik ten Hag, it is quite simple.

“We’re all on board, collectively, on one web page,” the Manchester United supervisor stated of his relationship with the membership’s management after a 0-0 draw at Aston Villa within the Premier League on Sunday.

The following few days will decide whether or not these above Ten Hag really feel the identical.

United heads into the two-week worldwide break on a five-match winless run in all competitions and languishing in 14th place within the league, having gained simply two of its opening seven video games this marketing campaign.

Ten Hag had arrived at Villa Park below enormous strain and with the membership’s minority proprietor, Jim Ratcliffe, having did not say he had religion within the Dutch coach when requested particularly on Friday.

Nevertheless creditable gaining a degree at a revitalized Villa is, it would nonetheless not be sufficient for Ten Hag — particularly with United’s new management having a while to weigh up his future earlier than the workforce’s subsequent sport.

“We all know what we’re working towards — it’s a long-term challenge and we’ve to maintain enhancing the method,” Ten Hag stated.

Enjoying in entrance of Ratcliffe and the remainder of United’s hierarchy, the guests got here closest to scoring when Bruno Fernandes struck a free kick in opposition to the crossbar within the 68th.

As a complete, Villa principally dominated a match performed 4 days after beating Bayern Munich within the Champions League.

Nonetheless, United dug in, defended nicely and earned a draw that adopted 3-3 at Porto within the Europa League. It marks an honest response to slumping to a chastening 3-0 residence loss to Tottenham final weekend.

“We proved in two robust away video games that this can be a workforce,” Ten Hag stated. “You noticed the preparedness, the spirit but in addition the idea and the religion they’ve.”

TOTTENHAM MELTDOWN

This time, it was Tottenham’s flip to break down.

Main 2-0 at halftime, Tottenham conceded three objectives in an 18-minute span early within the second half to lose 3-2 at Brighton.

“It’s a horrible loss for us — as unhealthy because it will get,” Tottenham supervisor Ange Postecoglou stated.

Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck had been the scorers for Brighton, which was repeatedly pulled aside by Spurs within the first half in the identical method as Chelsea did final week in a 4-2 win over the south-coast workforce.

Proper winger Brennan Johnson — scoring for the sixth straight sport in all competitions — and playmaker James Maddison each netted for Tottenham however some acquainted failings on the again had been uncovered once more.

“The worst defeat since I’ve been right here,” was the evaluation of Postecoglou, who’s in his second season at Tottenham.

Brighton climbed above Tottenham to sixth place with the win. Spurs dropped to ninth.

CHELSEA HELD

Fourth-place Chelsea drew 1-1 with Nottingham Forest because of Noni Madueke’s equalizer within the 57th minute at Stamford Bridge.

Forest took the lead eight minutes earlier by Chris Wooden and needed to play with 10 males from the 78th after James Ward-Prowse’s sending-off after a second yellow card for diving on the ball along with his palms to cease Nicolas Jackson launching a breakaway.

There was a melee late within the sport, sparked by Forest substitute Neco Williams pushing Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella off the pitch and into Chelsea supervisor Enzo Maresca.

Just about each participant acquired concerned and it led to Cucurella getting proven a yellow card for his function within the incident. That was his fifth reserving of the season, which guidelines him out of Chelsea’s sport in opposition to Liverpool after the worldwide break. One other Chelsea defender, Wesley Fofana, was additionally booked and can miss the match at Anfield.