Premier League: Manchester United and Erik ten Hag focusing on all positives after ‘massive' Aston Villa win

Premier League: Manchester United and Erik ten Hag focusing on all positives after ‘massive’ Aston Villa win

Manchester United clinched a much needed 2-1 win against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday, February 11, which now extends their unbeaten run in 2024 to 6 games in all competition.

As the Premier League is stepping into its decisive stage, Erik ten Hag’s United side is looking confident to carve something out of a season which has mostly carried disappointment for them. Goals from their Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund and a late goal from their Scottish midfielder, Scott  McTominay, has given their side a lot of positives to focus on.

United came on to Villa Park on Sunday, on top of their emphatic 3-0 win against West Ham in the previous game, whereas the case was entirely the opposite for Unai Emery’s Villa, who suffered a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in the FA Cup last Thursday, February 8. The third consecutive win in the Premier League for United means that they are now 6th on the Premier League table, and 6 points away from a UEFA Champions League spot.

Ten Hag and his side will be particularly happy with the win, as it means they now have 41 points and only five points away from fifth placed Villa. The current scenario on the Premier League table hints that both clubs will now have their eyes set on the fourth spot, which is currently held by Tottenham Hotspur.

MASSIVE WIN: TEN HAG

United’s Dutch manager carried a positive note during his post-match comments, with him acknowledging the vitality of the win but also stressing on not taking too much ease because of it.

“It was massive. It’s a massive win for us. So, we get closer. And that was the aim for today and was absolutely our target. And we did it. And I think also the way we did it, I think I liked it,” Erik ten Hag said.

According to the Dutchman, United’s decider by McTominay garnered some notion of positivity for their midfield.

“[It meant] Bruno could become more of a midfielder then in the offensive. I understand the players see the spaces and go for goal in such moments because they are offensive, they want to score goals. But I think it was better in certain situations to keep the ball and let the opponent run, drag them out and then it will open up. And so that was more the idea to bring an extra midfielder there. But with Scott, you have a player who can score a goal.” Ten Hag added.

Ten Hag was particularly impressed by his side’s first half performance, which according to him, consisted of a balanced defensive and overlapping approach.

“I think our defensive organisation was, in the first part, very good. And once we were winning, then we changed our mindset. For me, you should play on and you can do this when a game is going to the end and to play out the result,” Ten Hag said.

With the confidence and the positive point scenario gained from their win on Sunday, United will now move on to their next Premier League fixture against Luton Town on Sunday, February 18, at the Kenilworth Road stadium.

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