Manchester United star delivers Erik ten Hag assessment as decisive Aston Villa showdown looms

Harry Maguire insists that Erik ten Hag retains the backing of the Manchester United squad ahead of a crunch clash with Aston Villa this weekend.

Sunday’s Premier League showdown at Villa Park - for which co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe will reportedly be in attendance - could yet prove crucial in determining the Old Trafford future of the Dutch boss, whose role has become subject to more intense scrutiny this week after their disappointing start to the season reached a nadir with an abysmal 3-0 home loss at the hands of Tottenham.

A chaotic 3-3 draw away at Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night will have done preciously little to ease the significant pressure on Ten Hag, whose side were 2-0 up inside 20 minutes at the Estadio do Dragao thanks to early goals from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund but were level at half-time and fell 3-2 behind shortly afterwards before substitute Harry Maguire popped up with a 91st-minute equaliser to spare United’s blushes after captain Bruno Fernandes had been sent off for the second game in succession.

Another major subplot on the night was the shock decision to substitute Rashford at the break despite his impressive first half in Portugal, with Ten Hag insisting he was rotated in favour of Alejandro Garnacho with Sunday’s crucial trip to Villa - their final match before the October international break - in mind.

Reports this week have claimed that some in United’s dressing room believe the manager will soon be sacked, though Maguire insists the squad are still very much behind him.

Asked if he still believed in Ten Hag and felt the team could still improve under his leadership, Maguire told TNT Sports: “Yeah, definitely. I think to be honest I’ve played for this club now for six years, so I know how it works.

“When you go through a bad spell, players come under pressure, but also the manager does. He’s experienced enough, he’s been in the game long enough, he’s been at this club long enough that I’m sure he’s learned how to deal with it.

“It’s part and parcel of playing for this club or managing this club. It’s part of the privilege that you have.”