Aston Villa 1 Manchester United 2: tactical analysis

Manchester United breathed life into their top-four hopes with this victory at Villa Park. Defeat for the visitors — which remained a distinct possibility in the final quarter of this game — would have put them 11 points behind a fourth-placed Villa. Instead, United narrowed the gap on their opponents to five, with Tottenham six ahead of the Red Devils in fourth.

This was the second time in the space of six weeks that United have floored Villa. On Boxing Day, Erik ten Hag’s team had recovered from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Old Trafford. Here they withstood what was at times a Villa onslaught, claiming victory with another goal from their top Premier League goalscorer, Scott McTominay. The Scot’s seventh of the league campaign was the fourth goal he has scored as a substitute.

United had taken a first-half lead with Rasmus Højlund finishing from a Harry Maguire knockdown. At the age of 21 years and seven days, Højlund became the second-youngest player to score in five successive Premier League appearances, behind Nicolas Anelka for Arsenal (19 years and 239 days). Maguire, meanwhile, caused Villa problems at set-pieces, with England manager Gareth Southgate watching on.

Villa weathered the early storm, however, and grew into the game. Douglas Luiz deservedly levelled for the hosts midway through the second half, at which point it appeared that if a winner was coming, it would be from the hosts. McTominay and Manchester United — who registered a fourth successive victory for the first time this season — had other ideas.

How the managers saw it

“We created chances but we weren’t clinical,” said Unai Emery. “The plan before the match, we were speaking about in the dressing room, and the players did it. Sometimes it was goalkeeper, sometimes we weren’t clinical, but we controlled the game and avoided the transitions. We conceded a few chances to score, but they are Manchester United and they have very good players.”

“We found the mentality, the character to win this game,” said Ten Hag. “Also the subs, they have had an impact. [McTominay coming on meant] Bruno [Fernandes] could become more of a midfielder in the offensive. I understand the players see the spaces and go for goal in such moments because they are offensive, they want to score goals. But I think it was better in certain situations to keep the ball and let the opponent run, drag them out and then it will open up. And so that was more the idea to bring an extra midfielder there. But with Scott you have a player who can score a goal.”

Below, our UEFA-licensed experts consider the key tactical themes from the game...

Villa’s versatile structures

Aston Villa initially utilised a 4-2-3-1 shape as they settled into the game. Ollie Watkins threatened with early runs in behind Manchester United’s centre-backs, as John McGinn operated close by as Villa’s central number 10. Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey were positioned slightly inside, creating space for overlapping runs from full-backs Matty Cash and Àlex Moreno. A double pivot of Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz supported underneath (below).

Early on, Villa briefly converted into a 4-2-2-2, to deal with United’s high press. Ramsey — who had initially come inside from a starting position on the left — became a second number 10, with McGinn moving across (below). This again created space for both full-backs to advance. With the hosts’ double pivot tightly marked by United’s own double pivot, Villa’s centre-backs skipped the deeper midfielders and found the number 10s with through balls. This worked to drw out one of United’s back line — usually Maguire — as Villa broke through centrally, with Watkins supported by Bailey as a high front pair.

Just as Villa began to break the visitors’ high press, United scored from a set-piece and settled into a more reserved block. Villa then built with a back three, with Clément Lenglet widening from centre-back, allowing left-back Moreno to advance even higher (below). Ramsey permanently moved inside as a second 10 with McGinn, creating a box with the double pivot. United didn’t initially alter their defensive structure, as Villa worked regular chances via frequent access into McGinn and Ramsey. They fed Bailey wide on the right, or Watkins as the central forward, forcing André Onana into multiple saves.

In the second half, Villa rarely benefited when playing into Watkins, whose ball retention proved inconsistent. At the same time, United did a better job of screening Villa’s 10s, and started the second half as the better side.

Gradually, Villa began to find Bailey more frequently. The Jamaican caused problems for Victor Lindelöf, who was playing out of position after coming on for left-back Luke Shaw at half-time. Moussa Diaby was then added as a 10 — replacing Kamara after 65 minutes — with McGinn shifting to the double pivot. Villa worked the ball into the final third with regularity, playing into their number 10s (below). A Bailey cross duly found Luiz to deservedly equalise.

Surprisingly, Emery withdrew Bailey on 73 minutes. Diaby shifted to wide right, with McGinn back as a 10 and substitute Youri Tielemans into the double pivot. Despite their attacking momentum and continued final-third entries, Villa could not find a second goal.

United’s counter-attacking

Manchester United used a 4-2-3-1, with their chief threat coming during transitional moments. Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho supported either side of number nine Rasmus Højlund, and both often made inward runs from wide starting positions. Bruno Fernandes linked well into these movements, often from a withdrawn position, due to his positioning when United were out of possession.

When Villa adapted their attacking shape to leave just three at the back, United had moments of attacking with even numbers (below). Villa also maintained a high back line for lengthy periods, which gave United space to exploit with runs in behind. The hosts also left room just in front of their back line that United could drive at with the ball, especially from middle-third regains.

With Villa seizing the initiative after United took the lead, Ten Hag’s team adapted their defensive block. This made them more solid, but slightly weakened their transitional threat. As Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro struggled to deal with Villa’s two number 10s, Diogo Dalot would follow Ramsey inside (below). This limited the impact of the hosts’ central combinations, as Raphaël Varane covered Watkins and Maguire focused on McGinn between United’s lines.

With Moreno advancing high and often, Garnacho had to cover around Dalot, effectively removing his own counter-attacking threat. Rashford, on the other hand, could attack more frequently, as his direct opponent Cash rarely advanced forward.

United’s improved mid-block — with better screening from Højlund and Fernandes — provided more middle-third regains in the second half. This, in turn, meant United had more access on the break into their front three, where they could exploit Villa’s high back line. United’s supporting forward runs were also more direct and aggressive in the second half.

Once they regained possession from their reserved block, Rashford in particular was a threat with his 1v1 carries against Cash. Fernandes — and later Mainoo — joined as secondary support, as Villa looked to double up on Rashford. One of their double pivots looked to help Cash wherever possible (below).

Rashford, arguably United’s most purposeful attacking threat, was withdrawn on 73 minutes. Garnacho moved to the left, with Fernandes on the right. Despite a slight reduction in United’s counter-attacking threat, Rashford’s replacement, Scott McTominay, won it late on with a powerful header. A victory on the scoreboard, but also perhaps a victory for Ten Hag’s decision-making.

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