Even those supporters who are fully behind Unai Emery and the current regime would have held back from being completely confident about our trip to Old Trafford.
No goals for the home side in over 600 minutes. No goals for the new striker, Rasmus Højlund. It was written in the stars for the home side, wasn’t it? Manchester United, regardless of their form always seem to find a way when they play Aston Villa.
But let’s not allow one poor half of football and result to dismiss the achievements of this club in 2023. The form over the calendar year is only second to World Club Champions Manchester City. Despite what Unai Emery may have said in public following this result, you can bet your bottom dollar that he didn’t hold back in the changing room. He wouldn’t have been impressed by his performance any more than the performance against Sheffield United just before Christmas.
I was recently listening to the Fozcast (Ben Foster Podcast) where they spoke about players never being physically tired and only mentally tired. He and his guest James Tarkowski, spoke about how travelling in Europe is the hardest thing about it and it can wear you down mentally. Right now, this is how we look but we must find a way to get past this for when Burnley visits Villa Park on Saturday.
Report: Manchester United 3-2 Aston Villa
Emery made two changes to the side that drew with Sheffield United as Diego Carlos and Leander Dendoncker replaced Matty Cash and Moussa Diaby who both dropped to the bench.
Manchester United handed starts to Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen as Scott McTominay and Antony had to settle for places on the bench. Diego Dalot returned from his one-match suspension and replaced Luke Shaw.
The visitors started brightly dominating the ball as we have come accustomed under Emery with United trying a high press. It was when Villa beat the press when the problems came for the hosts.
Villa took the lead after 21 minutes when they were awarded a free-kick. Leon Bailey took up a position close to André Onana and appeared to say something to the goalkeeper, distracting him. John McGinn took the free kick and the ball beat everyone to find the back of the far post.
It took just five minutes for Villa to double their lead. Clément Lenglet was allowed to free himself at the back post and get his head on the end of McGinn’s corner. The French defender headed the ball back across goal and Dendoncker was also left unmarked and was able to cleverly divert the ball past Onana to make it 0-2.
United did up their game as Villa appeared to sit back with the offside trap proving to be an issue for the home side as they were caught offside six times in the first half.
The hosts thought they had got themselves back in the game moments after half-time when Rashford broke free before laying the ball off for Alejandro Garnacho who was able to round Argentine team-mate Emiliano Martínez and put the ball into the back of the net. VAR had other ideas though and correctly ruled the goal offside.
Just before the hour mark, United finally found the goal they had waited so long for. Rashford was able to get on the end of a poor pass by Carlos and picked out Garnacho at the back post who was able to make it 1-2.
It was all Manchester United at this stage as Villa looked lost and were unable to play out their gameplan.
United were soon level when Garnacho beat substitute Àlex Moreno before cutting inside and firing past Martínez as both sides were equal.
And then with eight minutes left on the clock, Højlund finally scored the goal he wanted for so long and the goal we all knew, in the build-up to the game, was going to come against Villa. Antony, who had just been introduced off the bench won the ball off Lenglet and won a corner. From the resulting corner, Højlund’s volley found the back of the net to complete the turnaround.
What the managers said
Emery: “Disappointed. After the first half, 60 minutes more or less, we were in control of the game. How we conceded, with the mistake in the middle, after it the crowd changes, the atmosphere is so much better for them, pushing them, the crowd go up.
“Even then we reacted, very good chances for John McGinn and Leon Bailey. Those were key moments as well.
“They have very good players and the reaction after the first goal was brilliant for them.
“Overall, we lost the positioning we had before, the result we were keeping for the first 60 minutes. We have to accept the match we lost tonight and also realise that the first half of the season has been fantastic – but could be better.”
Erik ten Hag: “In the first half we played solid, a bit sloppy to give two goals from set plays. We changed slightly the pressing but already in the first half we created chances.”
“We said to keep going, believe in ourselves, that is what I demand from the team. I said during half-time to keep believing and you will win this game.”
What’s next?
Aston Villa will host Burnley on Saturday for their final game of 2023 and in the Premier League before the Winter break.
Manchester United will travel to Nottingham Forest Saturday evening.