Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED trained in a random Portuguese stadium after their draw with Porto.Erik ten Hag and his players got straight down to business on Friday ahead of their must-win game against Aston Villa.Manchester United trained at a random Portuguese stadium on FridayCredit: GettyThe Red Devils got straight down to business ahead of their trip to Aston Villa on SundayCredit: GettyUnited remained in Portugal following their Europa League draw with Porto on ThursdayCredit: GettyThe Red Devils travel to Villa Park in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.It comes after Harry Maguire’s late header rescued a point in Portugal on Thursday night.Following their Europa League match, though, United remained in the country overnight.As a result, the players trained at the nearby Estadio do Bessa in Porto on Friday.READ MORE ON MAN UTDThe 28,263-capacity stadium has been home to top flight side Boavista since it was built in 1911.It also hosted three matches at Euro 2004 after being renovated ahead of the tournament.United’s players were pictured on the pitch on Friday for a session ahead of their flight back to England.The likes of Antony, Harry Maguire, Kobbie Mainoo and Joshua Zirkzee were all put through their paces.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFollowing their session, the squad returned to Manchester to continue preparing for Sunday’s match.Ten Hag is looking to secure a first win since the 7-0 thrashing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup last month.Porto vs Man Utd player ratings Man Utd ratings vs PortoMAN UTD ended up with a 3-3 draw after throwing away a 2-0 lead away to Porto.Here’s how SunSport’s Dylan Terry rated the Red Devils’ stars performances in PortugalAndre Onana – 6/10Reacted brilliantly the first time he was called into action with a flying save, only for Porto to score the rebound.Porto then scored with their next shot on target too – Omorodion’s header – and Onana could do little about the excellent finish for Porto’s third.Made two great stops to keep Man Utd in the game.Noussair Mazraoui – 4Looked fairly stable in the first 45 minutes but waned as the game went on.All at sea at the start of the second half as Porto cut through the right-hand side of Man Utd’s defence with ease.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Looked imposing in the air as he dealt with Porto’s crosses from both sides, but then failed to get in front of Omorodion for the hosts’ second goal.Like most of the Man Utd side, his performance dropped as the game went on and he was bullied by Porto’s No9.Lisandro Martinez – 4Should have reacted quicker for the first Porto goal as Pepe got ahead of him to nod into an empty net – with Martinez static on the six-yard box.There is clearly not much of a partnership with De Ligt as Porto pulled them apart all evening.Diogo Dalot – 4Porto enjoyed a lot of success down Man Utd’s left-hand side and Dalot looked all at sea on several occasions.Had little help from Martinez but still looked exposed.Casemiro – 3Anonymous yet again in Man Utd’s midfield – the ball just passes him by.Could not even manage one of his customary fouls.Christian Eriksen – 5Looked leggy out of possession but produced an impressive run before laying it off to Hojlund for Man Utd’s second goal.Then failed to make much more of an impact and his delivery from wide areas left a lot to be desired.Bruno Fernandes – 4A damning indictment of Man Utd’s current predicament as Fernandes was shown a red card for a second successive game.Two high boots, two yellow cards, and another early bath for the Portuguese playmaker – who had worked tirelessly prior to his dismissal.Amad Diallo – 5Very quiet aside from one burst through the middle as Rashford received all of the ball over the other side.Replaced by Antony who arguably created even less.Rasmus Hojlund – 7Made his case for starting ahead of Joshua Zirkzee with a goal, firing beyond Costa at the near post.Held it up and then showed his strength and pace to run at Porto before the break – showing little rustiness in his first start of the season.Marcus Rashford – 8Rashford showed his directness for the opening goal, driving at the Porto back line and forcing the error from Costa.A constant threat in the first half as he assisted Hojlund’s strike.But he was then surprisingly hooked at the break, a decision that will need an explanation from Ten Hag.See how the Man Utd subs rated hereHarry Maguire and Co trained at Boavista’s Estadio do BessaCredit: GettyUnited scored a stoppage time equaliser to draw 3-3 with PortoCredit: GettyThe Dutchman is under mounting pressure following defeat to Tottenham and Thursday’s Europa League collapse.United had raced into a two-goal lead before Porto’s turnaround and needed a stoppage time strike from Maguire to rescue a point.Meanwhile, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has failed to back Ten Hag after admitting it will not be his decision if he is sacked.Instead, CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth will be the ones to decide on his future.The Red Devils head into a must-win match for manager Erik ten Hag this weekendCredit: GettyUnited held a session at the 28,263-capacity stadium before returning to EnglandCredit: Getty More

ERIK TEN HAG’S close friend told him to leave Manchester United in the summer.The Red Devils boss came close to losing his job days after winning the FA Cup in May.Erik ten Hag’s close friend told him to leave in the summerCredit: AFPUnited chiefs considered his position before deciding to continue with Ten Hag at the helm, but poor form this season means the Dutchman is under renewed scrutiny.He reportedly has one match to save his job and a heavy defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday could see him fired.Close friend Leon Ten Voorde believes it is a “miracle” Ten Hag is still in his post and revealed he advised him to leave in the summer.He told the De Ballen Verstand of TC Tubantia podcast: “I advised him to leave last summer.READ MORE ON MAN UTD”He won the FA Cup, so you leave through the front door.”He’s had a lot of injuries this past year. But then trainers think: ‘I can turn things around’.”How long does United think this can go on?”That question is now hanging over United and Ten Hag again.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”In general, he is calm and relaxed. But I can’t imagine that this leaves you completely unaffected.”However Ten Hag is confident he will turn things around at Old Trafford and he has been keen to point out his trophy record at the club.Porto vs Man Utd player ratings He also called for judgement of the team to be reserved until later this season, adding: “We will get there. Don’t judge us in this moment. Judge us at the end of the season.”We are in the process and we will improve. We are now two seasons where we achieve finals. We have to develop and progress this team…I advised him to leave last summer. He won the FA Cup, so you leave through the front door.Leon Ten Voorde”We will work and we will continue and we will fight. You see the spirit and the connection between the staff and the team. Between the players, together, there’s a strong spirit.”We want to achieve and we are in that [same] direction. We have that mentality and spirit-wise, but especially in some defending parts, we have to step up.” More

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has refused to back Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.Instead, the Red Devils co-owner has revealed “it’s not my decision” if the under-fire boss is sacked.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has revealed ‘it’s not my decision’ if Erik ten Hag is sackedCredit: GettyThe Manchester United manager is under mounting pressure already this seasonCredit: GettyTen Hag is under mounting pressure at Old Trafford following a slow start to the new season.His side are currently 13th in the Premier League after winning just two of their opening six matches.Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham added to his woes United suffered their third league defeat of the campaign.Meanwhile, a stoppage time header from Harry Maguire was needed to rescue a draw against Porto in the Europa League on Thursday.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLTen Hag, who had his contract extended in July, could now be the first managerial casualty of the season.However, Ratcliffe has admitted it will not be up to him if the Dutchman stays or goes.Asked if he has faith in Ten Hag, the British billionaire told BBC Sport: “I don’t want to answer that question…”I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call, it’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”But that team that’s running Manchester United has only been together since June or July.”They weren’t there in January, February, March or April – [CEO] Omar [Berrada], [sporting director] Dan Ashworth – they only arrived in July.Erik ten Hag bemoans defensive lapses as Man Utd waste flying start in Porto Man Utd ratings vs PortoMAN UTD ended up with a 3-3 draw after throwing away a 2-0 lead away to Porto.Here’s how SunSport’s Dylan Terry rated the Red Devils’ stars performances in PortugalAndre Onana – 6/10Reacted brilliantly the first time he was called into action with a flying save, only for Porto to score the rebound.Porto then scored with their next shot on target too – Omorodion’s header – and Onana could do little about the excellent finish for Porto’s third.Made two great stops to keep Man Utd in the game.Noussair Mazraoui – 4Looked fairly stable in the first 45 minutes but waned as the game went on.All at sea at the start of the second half as Porto cut through the right-hand side of Man Utd’s defence with ease.Matthijs de Ligt – 4Looked imposing in the air as he dealt with Porto’s crosses from both sides, but then failed to get in front of Omorodion for the hosts’ second goal.Like most of the Man Utd side, his performance dropped as the game went on and he was bullied by Porto’s No9.Lisandro Martinez – 4Should have reacted quicker for the first Porto goal as Pepe got ahead of him to nod into an empty net – with Martinez static on the six-yard box.There is clearly not much of a partnership with De Ligt as Porto pulled them apart all evening.Diogo Dalot – 4Porto enjoyed a lot of success down Man Utd’s left-hand side and Dalot looked all at sea on several occasions.Had little help from Martinez but still looked exposed.Casemiro – 3Anonymous yet again in Man Utd’s midfield – the ball just passes him by.Could not even manage one of his customary fouls.Christian Eriksen – 5Looked leggy out of possession but produced an impressive run before laying it off to Hojlund for Man Utd’s second goal.Then failed to make much more of an impact and his delivery from wide areas left a lot to be desired.Bruno Fernandes – 4A damning indictment of Man Utd’s current predicament as Fernandes was shown a red card for a second successive game.Two high boots, two yellow cards, and another early bath for the Portuguese playmaker – who had worked tirelessly prior to his dismissal.Amad Diallo – 5Very quiet aside from one burst through the middle as Rashford received all of the ball over the other side.Replaced by Antony who arguably created even less.Rasmus Hojlund – 7Made his case for starting ahead of Joshua Zirkzee with a goal, firing beyond Costa at the near post.Held it up and then showed his strength and pace to run at Porto before the break – showing little rustiness in his first start of the season.Marcus Rashford – 8Rashford showed his directness for the opening goal, driving at the Porto back line and forcing the error from Costa.A constant threat in the first half as he assisted Hojlund’s strike.But he was then surprisingly hooked at the break, a decision that will need an explanation from Ten Hag.See how the Man Utd subs rated here”They’ve only been there…you can count it in weeks almost – they’ve not been there a long time so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.”Our objective is very clear – we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear.”Ten Hag has been in charge since replacing interim boss Ralf Rangnick in the summer of 2022.As for Ratcliffe, he purchased a 27.7 per cent stake in the club back in February and has since overhauled the football operations at United.Newly-appointed CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth are now overseeing Ten Hag’s performance.The United boss’ next test comes on Sunday, when his side visit Aston Villa in their final match before the international break.Omar Berradea (centre) and Dan Ashworth (right) will decide the manager’s futureCredit: PATen Hag’s side have already lost three times in the league and are winless in EuropeCredit: Reuters More