I would gobsmacked if Unai Emery wanted to replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager

Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has revealed he would be "gobsmacked" if Unai Emery wanted to replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager.

Ten Hag has come under increased pressure following United's disappointing start to the season. They have won just three out of their opening nine matches across all competitions.

United started the season with a 1-0 win over Fulham, but followed that up with back-to-back losses to Brighton and Liverpool. Successive victories against Southampton and Barnsley got them up and running after September's international break, but United are winless in their last four.

ALSO READ: Everything key United figures have said about Ten Hag

ALSO READ: Dutch icon Gullit makes bold United transfer statement

That includes last Sunday's 3-0 hammering at home to Tottenham and Thursday's dramatic 3-3 draw at Porto. Ten Hag's team are due to play Emery's Aston Villa today.

In contrast, their upcoming opponents, Villa, have been excellent under Emery. They have won seven of their first nine matches this season, with their only defeat coming at home to Arsenal. Villa have picked up six points from a possible six on their return to the Champions League and secured a famous 1-0 win over Bayern Munich.

Villa and United go head-to-head today with Emery linked with, possibly, replacing Ten Hag at Old Trafford if he is eventually fired. However, Murphy has admitted he would be stunned if Emery was even temped to leave Villa for United considering how well he has done and is doing right now.

"There couldn't be more of a contrast between Villa's upwards trajectory and next opponents Manchester United," Murphy told The Daily Mail. "If Erik ten Hag is sacked, would Emery be tempted to replace him? I'd be gobsmacked if he did, certainly if he felt he'd have less influence at Old Trafford than he does now.

Murphy went on: "It's clear from the way Villa are doing business that Emery has complete trust in the football executives Monchi and Damian Vidagany, who he's worked with before. They are partners rather than having a chain of command. Emery has power but clearly he doesn't use it to be a tyrant or dictator.

"Anyone else and Villa's hierarchy might be worried about a vacancy at United. But Emery's commitment to the cause means I'd be shocked if he was tempted.

"He's adored by Villa fans and the players run through walls for him. They have a very high ceiling and importantly he's also well-backed by the owners. I'm not saying he wouldn't be at United - but it's other people who would be in charge of recruitment and he wouldn't be able to bring in his people."

Manchester United - 25 years on from winning the treble - souvenir special on sale now!

Manchester United made history 25 years ago by becoming the first English club to win the Treble.

This stunning Manchester Evening News souvenir special looks at the men behind the triumph, the key moments, the big matches, the astonishing comebacks.

David Beckham, Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs – perhaps the finest midfield quartet in the history of the British game. Peter Schmeichel and Jaap Stam, two of the rocks at the back upon which the Treble triumph was built. The fab four up front - Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

It truly was the greatest season of all time.

Order your copy now and get it delivered direct to your door. On sale in most participating supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in Manchester from Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Worldwide shipping available, postage and packaging applies for all online orders. This is a newsprint product and may be folded for dispatch.