Man Utd told just two players would get into Aston Villa's XI in scathing review
Manchester United have fallen so far under Erik ten Hag that just two of their players would get into Aston Villa’s starting XI.
That is the opinion of former Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor, who has savaged United with a damning assessment of their squad. United have made a slow start to the campaign and sit eighth in the Premier League with 15 points from nine games.
Ten Hag’s side have been hugely inconsistent, losing two of their three games in the Champions League this season. They have struggled at both ends of the pitch, managing just 11 goals and two clean sheets in the league so far.
By contrast, Villa have impressed under Unai Emery and sit fifth in the league, four points ahead of United. Emery’s side are the second-highest scorers in the Premier League with 23 goals and Agbonlahor believes their current team is much stronger than United.
The two sides won’t meet in the league until Boxing Day, but Agbonlahor is sure what the result would be right now if they were to play. In August he had an even split in a combined XI, picking Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford in the team, but things have changed now.
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“My team now, I have taken some Manchester United players out,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT. “So I have got [Emiliano] Martinez in goal, I have got Matty Cash at right-back. [Esri] Konsa, has been outstanding at centre-half with [Pau] Torres. Left-back I have got [Lucas] Digne – [he’s] not even my first-choice left-back, [Alex] Moreno is injured!
“In midfield, I have gone for Douglas Luiz, John McGinn and [Boubacar] Kamara. On the left I have gone for Rashford and cutting in from the right is Bruno Fernandes, and [Ollie] Watkins up front.”
Aston Villa are in form this season (Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images) HAVE YOUR SAY! What do you make of Gabby Agbonlahor's combined XI? What changes would you make? Comment below.
Wan-Bissaka, Shaw and Lisandro Martinez are all currently out injured for United, with Ten Hag dealing with a huge injury list. The injury to Martinez has allowed Harry Maguire to return to the team and he made the most of his chance by scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The game also had a redemptive moment for much-maligned goalkeeper Andre Onana, who kept out a last-minute penalty to make sure of the points. Ten Hag and his players face a major challenge next, with Manchester City visiting Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.
United have won just two of the past eight fixtures against their local rivals in all competitions with Pep Guardiola ’s side winning the FA Cup final in the last meeting in June. City are second in the Premier League, but have been far from faultless, losing back-to-back games against Wolves and Arsenal recently.
Agbonlahor's combined United and Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Luiz, McGinn, Kamara; Fernandes, Watkins, Rashford.
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