British media revealed that Manchester United manager Ten Hag has taken the opportunity of the break between international breaks to go on holiday after the 0-0 draw with Aston Villa. While United's hierarchy will meet on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the manager, the 54-year-old Netherlands is confident that his position is not directly threatened and will remain in charge.
This is already a familiar story for Manchester United fans, and whenever Ten Hag faces a crisis, he will give up "the whole job" and return to pragmatism, while the team can at least try to remain unbeaten, and the game at Villa Park is hardly exciting, but it is what the Red Devils and their 54-year-old Netherlands manager need.
Manchester United conceded six goals in two games against Tottenham and Porto, and did not concede in the draw with Villa, not by luck, but by Ten Hag's tactical adjustments. Villa usually score two goals per game, and the Red Devils have managed to contain the opposition's attack, but of course, there are other objective factors that help.
Ten Hag's pragmatic tactics were evident from the first minute, when Villa goalkeeper Martinez got the ball and looked up to see that the whole United team had retreated to halfway without pressing the so-called high post. United's formation changed to 442, with a large number of players piled up in central midfield, which was a sign that the home side were going to step back and wait for an opportunity to counter-attack.
Usually eye-defensive, and with no pace and no body, Fernandes were put up front, alongside Hojlund, with Marcus Rashford asked to drop back to the left of midfield, with Villa finding that there were not many gaps up front. And they just played a tough game with Bayern Munich in midweek, 1-0 upset against their opponents, although morale is high but the body can't keep up, coach Emery is also cautious, and Ten Hag, who wants to protect the whole Premier League, tacitly played a close game. Apart from a stoppage-time chance blocked by Diogu · Darlow, Villa barely created any good chances throughout the game, with only one shot on target.
The match was the first 0-0 draw in the Premier League at Villa Park since 62 games in May 2021, with the combined expected goals of both teams reaching just 1.05 goals, the lowest figure in the league so far this season. It's not just because of a strong defence, it's also because of Villa.
Whether Unai Emery intends to 'Pauteng' or not, one can have their own opinions, but Villa clearly want a slow-paced game. On the one hand, they are not fit enough, and on the other hand, they are also afraid of the threat of Manchester United on the counter-attack. As a result, Villa play very slowly and rarely risk trying to pass through a crowded midfield, and they don't want to switch too quickly, which would be more suited to the Red Devils' trident of Marcus Rashford, Hojlund and Garnacho.
Back in the moment when Martin looked up to see United's formation, he noticed that the opponent was deep in defense and waited a full 26 seconds to pass the ball. Ideally, Unai Emery wouldn't have wanted a 0-0 result, but Villa were tired after the 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, and the absence of Jacob· Ramsey and John ·McGinn also deprived them of two of their most dynamic players.
Villa's touches and passes were so slow and inaccurate that they created a disconnect up front, which made it easy for United's defence to deal with. Manchester United veteran Evans was the only man in charge, with five headers and four successful tackles, and most of Villa's wide crosses could not get past the post, and neither Watkins nor substitute Duran had a chance to get on the ball. Defensively, this is a positive step for United, but perhaps the result of neo-conservatism.
United, meanwhile, were not much better, with cautious tactics and frequent misguided passes, the Red Devils only had four shots on target, and Villa's goal was not too much of a threat. United will have to improve their attack after the international break against Brentford, Fenerbahce, West Ham United and Leicester City or Ten Hag will still be questioned.
United have failed to score in their last three Premier League games, scoring just five goals in their first seven Premier League games, the lowest since the 1972/73 season, and not as good as David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho. It has been argued that Ten Hag should be bold and open to a more risky and open style of play in the face of Villa's slump. But the Netherlands, who are facing the crisis of resignation, will naturally not do this, and two consecutive draws can increase the probability of him staying in office, but if he loses, the possibility of leaving class will be high.
So, although Marcus Rashford was the most dangerous with two of United's four shots on target, Ten Hag did not hesitate to replace him with Antony, who defended better, because he was more active in defence and was too reckless to get red. Standing or kneeling, the vast majority of people choose the latter.
United's draw with Villa was not enough to quell criticism of Ten Hag, but it could have made the club's hierarchy hesitate. On Monday, Jim · Sir Ratcliffe, Team INEOS and Ferguson met at Old Trafford, but the British media revealed that its main agenda was a home rebuild, as Gary · Neville, who was a key member of the Old Trafford redevelopment task force, were also involved. There was no major development on Ten Hag's departure on Monday, with co-chairman Joel · Glazer, chief operating officer Colette · Roch and chief financial officer Roger · Bale set to attend the executive committee meeting in London on Tuesday, but they are likely to decide not to change managers and remain on the sidelines.
Former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann was sacked after a ski holiday in March 2023, but Ten Hag has fond memories of the holiday, and while he was on vacation in Spain this summer, Rajue's cronies came to inform him to continue leading the team and extend his contract for another year.