ERIK TEN HAG had a heated conversation with his number two Ruud van Nistelrooy against Aston Villa.
Manchester United picked up their first clean sheet in four games as they battled to a dull 0-0 draw at Villa Park.
But Ten Hag still did not cut an easy figure on the touchline and at one point during the match became embroiled in an argument with his compatriot.
The Dutchman sat in the dugout as Van Nistelrooy offered advice, but Ten Hag appeared to dismiss his suggestions.
Ten Hag gestured with his hand and shook his head and had a puzzled look on his face, clearly not agreeing with his right-hand man.
Van Nistelrooy returned to Old Trafford as assistant manager in the summer but will reportedly be offered the top job if Ten Hag is sacked.
Ten Hag was given the Porto and Aston Villa matches to avoid the sack and two draws mean he has been given a stay of execution.
Fans are calling for him to be axed with United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe refusing to publicly back him, and Ten Hag admits he has no idea if he will be sacked.
He said: “I don’t have any idea that is different. Because they should have told me. We communicate very open, very transparent.
“I speak continuously with them and just after the game I have to do my job, talk with the players, manage the players and answer questions from you.
MANCHESTER UNITED eased the pressure slightly on boss Erik ten Hag with a hard-grafted stalemate at in-form Aston Villa.
United looked much more solid defensively after Ten Hag rung the changes – though the Red Devils still have just eight points from seven Prem games.
Here’s how SunSport’s Graeme Bryce rated 14th-placed United rated at Villa Park on Sunday.
ANDRE ONANA – 7
Guilty of sloppy distribution once or twice but his hands were safe enough and he did well to beat away a piledriver from Youri Tielemans to keep United on level terms.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI – 6
Managed to contain Jaden Philogene comfortably enough in the first 45 minutes but failed to appear for the second half and was replaced by Victor Lindelof.
HARRY MAGUIRE – 6
Booked for a high forearm challenge on Ollie Watkins but his afternoon ended at half-time after he appeared to jar his knee defending a corner.
JONNY EVANS – 9
Handled Ollie Watkins well in the first 45 and showed all his experience to deal with the twin threat of Watkins and Jhon Duran for the final half hour. Rolled back the years with a five-star display to earn his Man of the Match rating.
DIOGO DALOT – 7
Sat in and rarely got forward but snuffed out the threat of Leon Bailey and was tidy enough. Crucial block to deny Philogene a stoppage time winner.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN – 7
Used all his experience to plug any gaps in United’s carefully constructed midfield. Dealt with the threat from Morgan Rogers well.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 7
Nothing flashy from the England midfielder who had his work cut out preventing Youri Tielemans carrying out his magic.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO – 6
Fired in a first-half shot which Emi Martinez dealt with comfortably but shot hopelessly wide a couple of times after the break. Sloppy finishing let him down.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 8
United’s skipper only played after his red card against Spurs was overturned on appeal.
Kept his cool here to avoid a third red card in three games – came closest for United with a free kick which crashed off the Villa crossbar.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 7
Taken off at half-time in Oporto and taken off after 64 minutes to save himself a second yellow card here!
Looked United’s likeliest match-winner after forcing an early save from Martinez before bringing the best out in the Argentine World Cup winner with a sizzling effort which the ‘keeper tipped over. Booked for a foul on Cash.
RASMUS HOJLUND – 6
Put himself about and was involved in the clash which led to Ezri Konsa limping off. But lacked service and was replaced by Zirkzee just beyond the hour mark. Below par.
SUBS
MATTHIJS DE LIGT for Maguire (46 minutes) – 5 – Conceded a few fouls in dangerous areas. Still finding his feet.
VICTOR LINDELOF for Mazraoui (46 mins) – 6 – First appearance since March but fitted in well as a stand-in right-back. Booked for a foul on Morgan Rogers.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE for Hojlund (64 mins) – 5 – Miles off the pace, failed to make any impact.
ANTONY for Rashford (64 mins) – 6 – Brought out the best in Emi Martinez with a curler which was heading for the top bin until the keeper plucked it out of mid-air.
CASEMIRO for Mainoo (85 mins) – 6 – Helped see out the match for United.
“We always talk. Every week, I would say every day we talk, so I expect I will speak with them.
“I think you said it very good – external noise. Internal, we are disappointed, we know we have to do better, especially we need to score more, that is the moment in this area after this block of games where we are really short.”
Man Utd are understood to be considering their options with Thomas Tuchel lined up as a potential replacement.
Van Nistelrooy could also get the gig but reportedly has doubts about usurping Ten Hag due to his own experience of being betrayed while manager of PSV.
The former striker lasted less than a year as manager of the Dutch club as he accused his assistant Fred Rutten and several senior players of conspiring with the club’s directors in the Spring of 2023, before he quit the club prior to the final game of the season.
