Erik ten Hag needs a good performance vs Aston Villa. (Image: Getty)
– and more specifically – travel to on Sunday in desperate need of a bit of joy in the . The Red Devils have won just two and lost three of their opening six league matches this season, leaving Ten Hag under a record-high level of scrutiny.
Last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to at ramped up the pressure on the Dutchman to overturn his side’s fortunes after last season’s disastrous eighth-place finish.
Another dark day at Villa Park could put the nail in his coffin, with kingpin expected to be in attendance alongside club executives.
If Bayern Munich – previously unbeaten under Vincent Kompany – can taste defeat in the West Midlands, this United outfit most certainly can, too.
Villa enjoyed a historic night on Wednesday as home fans celebrated the return of Champions League football before the Holte End.
and co. had their fair share of chances, but Emi Martinez’s heroics and Jhon Duran’s long-range late winner sealed a 1-0 triumph forever etched in club folklore.
Duran, naturally deputy to Ollie Watkins, has made a habit of making an impact from the bench this season.
The 20-year-old striker has played 297 minutes and made just one start but has six goals to his name in all competitions.
His average of a goal every 50 minutes has left the and Europe on red alert, and he could’ve been enjoying the same form for United.
Jhon Duran is on fire for Aston Villa. (Image: Getty)
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That’s because, near the end of 2022, United were heavily with a swoop for Duran, then a promising teenager at Chicago Fire.
, and Benfica were among the other European giants linked, with his valuation said to have been £10million.
In January 2023, Villa swept in and won the race. In the same month, United, scrambling to replace Cristiano Ronaldo, signed Wout Weghorst on loan.
In the two summers that followed, £108.5m went towards and Joshua Zirkzee. Duran is outshining both.
After the Colombian’s latest heroics, United supporters went back to an old post of the report linking him to the club and shared their frustrations that Ten Hag opted against pushing for a move.
wrote: “Everyday he scores, I always come back to this [frustration emoji, heartbreak emoji].”
speculated: “Scouts were never the issue, it was always the board.”
Amidst lots of images of different characters crying, added to the despair by sharing a photo of a comical cartoon.
It showed someone (labelled ”) preparing to hit an oblivious other person (labelled ‘Me just trying to enjoy a weekend) from behind with a metal bar.
Duran may not start against United on Sunday, but he will be an almighty threat whether he does or is introduced off the bench.
Ten Hag may leave Villa Park not only fearing for his job but also ruing not advancing the interest in one of the most exciting young attackers in Europe when he had the chance.