Manchester United has made some strides compared to last season, but it remains uncertain if they can secure a Champions League spot by season’s end.
Currently sitting sixth in the Premier League after 16 matches, United is just two points behind Chelsea, who occupies fourth place.
However, their home performance has raised concerns. With only four wins out of eight league games at Old Trafford, including losses to Arsenal and Everton along with draws against West Ham and Bournemouth, they find themselves lagging.
These dropped points at home could be crucial later in the season.
Looking ahead to their match at Villa Park, Aston Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, spoke about United’s strengths and weaknesses this season.
Emery noted that United has performed better away from home this year and expects his team to deliver a strong performance on Sunday.
“It will be very difficult for us this weekend,” he said, as reported by The Mirror. “Of course, it’s United, a team with a rich history that is working hard to build a strong squad and aims to reach a top position this year.”
“They are doing very well away from home, winning matches and performing strongly.”
“While they face more challenges at home, I have a lot of respect for them because of their history and their ongoing improvement under the new coach.”
“They have talented players and are very effective offensively.”
“We are prepared but will approach the game with humility as we try to understand our performance and challenges,” Emery concluded.
Emery Discusses United’s Challenges Before Villa Match
While Emery acknowledged United’s home difficulties, it won’t impact their upcoming match as it will be hosted at Villa Park.
Before the game, Emery highlighted how uncommon it is for Aston Villa to defeat Manchester United, even at home.
“In the last 30 or 31 years, Aston Villa has only beaten Manchester United three times at home, which is quite surprising,” he said.
The last victory against United occurred in November 2022 during Emery’s first game in charge, ending in a 3-1 win.
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