Jim Ratcliffe makes Aston Villa decision as pressure grows on Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag

Erik ten Hag is fighting to save his job at Manchester United, who have won just two of their opening six Premier League games and now face a tricky trip to form team Aston Villa on Sunday

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to attend Sunday's match at Aston Villa (2pm kick-off) as pressure grows on Old Trafford boss Erik ten Hag, reports the Mirror.

Despite being awarded a contract extension in the summer, Ten Hag has overseen just two wins from the Red Devils' first six Premier League games, leaving them languishing in 13th place.

And the former Ajax manager's position has become increasingly precarious following a 3-0 home defeat to Tottenham last weekend and a dramatic Europa League draw with FC Porto on Thursday. With the international break looming, Sunday's game could prove crucial for Ten Hag's future at the club - but Villa are flying at the moment and made European headlines this week for all the right reasons after beating Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Ratcliffe will have the final say on sacking Ten Hag if things reach that point, although any decision would be made alongside Sir Dave Brailsford and Joel Glazer. The trio would take recommendations from chief executive Omar Berrada and Dan Ashworth, the club's new sporting director.

However, the news that Ratcliffe will be flying into the UK to watch the match at Villa Park suggests Ten Hag's position is at least assured until after this weekend. But beyond that is looking less certain for the 54-year-old.

Despite United's poor start to the new season, Ten Hag remains upbeat. After the Tottenham loss, he said about his future: "I'm not thinking about this. We are all on one page or in one boat together - the ownership, the staff, the players as well. So I don't have that concern [about the sack].

"We all made togetherness in this decision to stay together, as an ownership and as a leadership group. In the summer we also made the decision, from a clear review, on what we have to improve and how we want to construct a squad. But we knew it would take some time."

However, defeat at Villa Park plus a two-week international break might force the hand of United bosses if they decide that a change of manager is needed.

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