Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has admitted that the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag is weighing on the players, as their goalless draw against Aston Villa extended their winless streak to five games, Soccernet.football reports.
Ten Hag, whose position has been under intense scrutiny, will hope that the draw at Villa Park can alleviate some of the pressure.
United’s co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was in attendance to witness the team put in a more resilient performance than in recent defeats to Tottenham and Porto. Despite this, United were unable to secure a win.
Evans, paired in defence with Harry Maguire before the England international was forced off at half-time with an injury, reflected on how Ten Hag’s situation is impacting the squad.
“It does affect the players. It’s on our minds too,” Evans told BBC Match of the Day. “The important thing was to show the spirit in the team. Everyone competed as much as they could.”
Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes came close to scoring, with Fernandes’ free-kick rattling the crossbar.
Substitute Antony also tested Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who produced an acrobatic save from a long-range effort.
Ten Hag will now look to use the international break to reassess and regain momentum before facing Brentford at Old Trafford.
Despite the ongoing pressures, Evans was keen to emphasize the team’s readiness, stating, “It’s important everyone coming in is ready to go when they’re needed.”
While the result may not relieve all the pressure, it provides Ten Hag with a glimmer of hope moving forward.