Against Aston Villa, Ten Hag Asks Manchester United To Score Goals First

Jadon Sancho was pulled by Erik ten Hag (left) out in a substitution when Manchester United competed. (Instagram @jadoonsancho7).

JAKARTA - Manchester United (MU) coach Erik ten Hag asked his team to score first when they hosted Aston Villa in the Premier League at the red devil's headquarters, Old Trafford, Wednesday, December 27 at 03.00.

By scoring a goal first, according to Ten Hag, it will smooth out MU's steps to three points. Especially regarding goals, MU is being hit by bad statistics because he has not been able to score in the last four matches in all competitions.

Therefore, according to the Dutch coach, scoring a goal first will make his team appear confident throughout the match.

"To get started (we have to understand) the meaning of the first goal. When you control the game like we did today," Ten Hag said, launching from the club's official website, Tuesday.

He also wants his team to take advantage of the opportunities they get no matter how small. The reason is, according to him, this is very important because the team against the Reds Devils will be a team that is in good performance in the league.

Apart from finishing third in the standings with 39 points, Villa are currently also unbeaten from the last 10 matches in all competitions where Unai Emery's men won seven wins and three draws.

"Villa is a different team. They are in a very good performance and are a very good team. So first of all we get to that point, but if you create an opportunity, you have to take advantage of it if you want to win the game because if you don't, you won't win the game. That's clear," he said.

The Red Devils are now in eighth position in the standings with 28 points. The victory against Villa will bring Bruno Fernandes and his friends potentially to sixth place if the two competitors above him, West Ham United and Newcastle United get minor results in the closing week of the first half of the Premier League later.