Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes under-pressure Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains a winner – despite his troubles at Old Trafford.
The Dutchman takes United to Villa Park on Sunday after Harry Maguire’s last-gasp leveller rescued a 3-3 draw in their Europa League game at Porto on Thursday.
United blew a 2-0 lead to trail 3-2, which looked like pushing Ten Hag closer to the brink.
The visitors are 13th in the Premier League after winning two of their six games, with Villa – who beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday – fifth.
Emery said: “I respect him a lot. I have to respect him because he has beaten me more than I’ve beaten him. He’s a winner – they won the FA Cup. He is a very good coach. The demands there are huge demands but he is doing a process.
“We won the first match when I arrived here but since we have lost four matches against them. They are a winning team and they have an experienced coach and experienced players. The club is usually a winning club.
“They are not getting consistently good results in the Premier League but, playing only one match, they can exploit their capacity and skill.
“I will prepare for the match more than how I prepared against Bayern.”
Emery, who could be without Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey after they came off in the win over Bayern, has also warned his players they cannot relax despite Wednesday’s victory.
“To be consistent in the Premier League is the first objective,” he said.
“We enjoyed Wednesday a lot. We have six points [in the Champions League] but there is no change in my mind. The ambition I have in this club, since I arrived here, is the same.
“We are getting a lot of success sooner than I was thinking. Of course, now my expectation is to keep it. My example is to keep demanding and don’t relax. Everyone relaxes when they get comfortable and has success.
“Now I will want to win on Sunday.”
