Casemiro

If you believe the English media, Ten Hag has less and less time to save his job at Old Trafford. Manchester United will play against Aston Villa on Sunday. A stumble at Villa Park may determine the fate of the 54-year-old.

It is not the first time that the press has speculated about the future of Ten Hag. The Dutchman’s dismissal was widely reported just after the end of the 2023/2024 season. Manchester United was looking for a new coach at the time, but after a detailed analysis, they came to the conclusion that Ten Hag was the best candidate to bring the team back to the top.

Manchester United started the 2024/2025 season disastrously, which again caused an avalanche of speculation about Ten Hag. Recent reports suggest that the Red Devils are ready to resume talks with Thomas Tuchel, who was linked with taking the job at the Theater of Dreams last summer.

Portal iNews informs that negotiations with Tuchel ended in failure due to financial issues and the scope of the German coach’s influence. However, Tuchel was not written off for good. The Red Devils intend to return to talks with the German if Erik ten Hag is released.

Ten Hag’s potential successors also include Graham Potter and Gareth Southgate. However, Mauricio Pochettino, who recently became the new coach of the US national team, is no longer taken into account.

It is possible that Manchester United will decide on a short-term solution after Ten Haga’s dismissal. Ruud van Nistelrooy may take over the role of interim coach. The Dutchman joined the Red Devils’ training staff in the summer.

Manchester United will have an October break for national team matches after the match against Aston Villa. The Red Devils will return to action on Saturday, October 19.

Erik ten Hag slightly changed Manchester United’s starting eleven compared to the clash with Tottenham Hotspur. In the middle of the pitch, experienced Casemiro and Christian Eriksen got a chance. Amad Diallo and Rasmus Hojlund also started the match from the beginning.

The first minutes belonged to the FC Porto team, which launched decisive attacks. Already in the 2nd minute, Andre Onana made a good intervention, saving Galeno’s shot.

Five minutes later, Manchester United celebrated the opening goal. Christian Eriksen extended the action to the left wing, where Marcus Rashford dribbled with two FC Porto players, cut the action to the center and surprised Diogo Costa with a shot into the short corner.

The goal scored gave Erik ten Haga’s players confidence. In the 15th minute, the Red Devils were close to increasing their lead. Ze Pedro almost put the ball into his own goal.

In the 20th minute, Manchester United launched another quick attack. Andre Onana kicked the ball into his own goal. Christian Eriksen played to Marcus Rashford, who spotted Rasmus Hojlund in the penalty area, who beat Diogo Costa with a shot into the short corner. The Portuguese goalkeeper was surprised in a similar way for the second time.

With the score at 2-0, Manchester United had a good opportunity to increase their lead. In the 24th minute, Costa made a good intervention after Rashford’s shot.

FC Porto players ignored the Red Devils’ two-goal lead and did what they could to get back into the game. In the 27th minute, the hosts made contact. After a throw-in into the penalty area, Noussair Mazraoui made an unfortunate intervention, almost surprising Andre Onana with his header. The Cameroonian knocked the ball down, but Pepe Aquino quickly made the rebound.

FC Porto’s frenzied attacks continued. In the 34th minute at the Estadio do Dragao there was a 2-2 draw. Joao Mario threw the ball from the right wing, Samu Omorodion ran past Matthijs de Ligt on the third meter and beat Andre Onana with a shot under the crossbar.

Before the break, Manchester United had two good chances to score the third goal. Casemiro’s shot from a few meters was saved by Diogo Costa, and in stoppage time, after an impressive dribble, Marcus Rashford missed the chance to shoot from close range.

The second half could have started badly for Manchester United. In the 47th minute, Francisco Moura had a great opportunity to score a goal for FC Porto. The home team’s defender ran into the Red Devils’ penalty area, shot from close range, and Andre Onana made an effective intervention.

In the 50th minute, FC Porto achieved their goal. Pepe carried out a quick attack on the right wing, played five meters to Samu Omorodion, and the latter shot under the crossbar without giving Onana the slightest chance.

Manchester United tried to react to the conceded goal and lead to a draw. In the 62nd minute, Noussair Mazraoui made a clever sliding shot. The Moroccan’s shot caused a lot of problems for Diogo Costa. FC Porto responded with a shot from Samu. If it weren’t for Onana’s good intervention, the Spanish striker would have enjoyed a hat-trick.

Manchester United had to play short from the 80th minute. Bruno Fernandes was sent off. The Portuguese wanted to get to the ball in the penalty area, he raised his leg high and although he missed Nehuen Perez, the referee had the right to send him off the field.

A moment after leaving the pitch, FC Porto had an excellent situation at 4:2. However, substitute Deniz Gul did not take advantage of the one-on-one situation with Onana.

In the 88th minute, Alejandro Garnacho was close to being lucky. The Argentinian fired a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, but Diogo Costa made a great intervention between the posts, rehabilitating himself for mistakes in two goals for the Red Devils.

Manchester United equalized the score in the 91st minute. Erika ten Haga players had a corner kick. Christian Eriksen sent a good cross into the penalty area. Harry Maguire scored well in the fifth meter and scored a 3-3 draw with a header.

FC Porto – Manchester United 3:3 (2:2)
Goals: Pepe Aquino 27, Samu Omorodion 34′, Samu Omorodion 50′ – Marcus Rashford 7′, Rasmus Hojlund 20′, Harry Maguire 90’+1′
Red card: Bruno Fernandes 80′

FC Porto: Costa – Mario (Gul 77′), Ze Pedro, Perez, Moura – Gonzalez, Eustaquio (Vieira 77′), Varela – Pepe (Fernandes 62′), Samu (Grujić 77′), Galeno

Manchester United: Onana – Mazraoui, De Ligt (Evans 78′), Martinez (Maguire 78′), Dalot – Casemiro, Eriksen – Rashford (Garnacho 46′), Fernandes, Amad (Antony 68′) – Hojlund (Zirkzee 68′)