Aston Villa extended their run to 10 consecutive wins in all competitions with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Villa Park. Morgan Rogers scored both Villa goals, either side of Matheus Cunha’s composed equaliser just before the break. The result was compounded for United by an injury to Bruno Fernandes at half-time and the senior debut of Jack Fletcher, son of iconic midfielder Darren.

United player ratings

GK: Senne Lammens — 6.2: Helpless for Rogers’s strikes but produced a few solid saves elsewhere.
CB: Leny Yoro — 6.5: Let Morgan Rogers cut inside too easily for Villa’s opener and struggled with him throughout. Hooked in the second half after a difficult outing.
CB: Ayden Heaven — 7.0: Made a couple of excellent early blocks and looked composed throughout, doing a solid job of marshalling Ollie Watkins.
CB: Luke Shaw — 6.5: Distributed the ball well, but struggled defensively against John McGinn, who often came out on top in their duels.
RWB: Diogo Dalot — 7.2: Impressive on the right, showing why his versatility is vital for United. Got forward effectively and defended well.
CM: Bruno Fernandes — 6.9: A solid if unspectacular first half, but had to go off injured at the break.
CM: Manuel Ugarte — 6.7: Sloppy in possession, regularly muscled off the ball and second-best in duels.
LWB: Patrick Dorgu — 8.2: One of United’s best players, lively on the left and solid defensively. Got one assist.
AM: Matheus Cunha — 8.2: Coolly finished United’s equaliser and was central to most of United’s threat.
AM: Mason Mount — 6.7: United’s standout in the second period, constantly trying to create chances.
ST: Benjamin Šeško — 6.3: First start since late November; spurned a good chance and remains short of match sharpness.

Substitutes: Lisandro Martínez (46′ for Fernandes) 6.6; Jack Fletcher (72′ for Ugarte) 5.9; Joshua Zirkzee (72′ for Šeško) 6.1; Shea Lacey (83′ for Yoro) N/A.

Match context: United dominated possession at times and created chances, but conceded to two moments of quality from Rogers. “It’s Morgan Rogers vs. Manchester United, and Morgan Rogers is winning.” United sit seventh at Christmas, while Villa are third, three points behind Arsenal and one behind Manchester City.

Ruben Amorim has publicly appealed for patience around Kobbie Mainoo’s situation at Manchester United after a family stunt and growing media attention. The manager framed Mainoo’s current role as part of a normal development process at Old Trafford, reminding observers that notable figures have not always been automatic starters.

Tensions rose after Mainoo’s half-brother posed in a t-shirt which read “Free Kobbie Mainoo” during the recent 4–4 draw with Bournemouth, a stunt that left former player Roy Keane thoroughly unimpressed. Ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Aston Villa, Amorim urged restraint and work ethic from the 20-year-old.

“Kobbie needs to fight for his job,” Amorim stressed ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Aston Villa. “I think that it is not a bad thing to be on the bench of Manchester United  when you are 20 years old.

“I remember Ronaldo was on the bench, Rooney was on the bench sometimes. [Juan Sebastián] Verón was not playing. I remember all the history of Manchester United and nobody … So let’s continue in trying to avoid the nonsense and the noise. I just want to help the team win, to help Kobbie to be a better player.”

Amorim has repeatedly defended his selection choices and has denied that limited use of Mainoo is a message or strategy aimed at anyone. He stressed the selection is made with match-winning priorities in mind and encouraged the young midfielder to respond on the field.

“I’m not trying to say to Kobbie, ‘You are a big player here, let’s put him on the bench to show something’,” he insisted. “No, no.

“What I’m saying is the opposite. I’m just not putting Kobbie sometimes because I understand that this is not the right guy to start the game. Maybe the next game, on Sunday, he is going to start.

“If he plays well, he’s going to show everyone. ‘This guy cannot take me from the team,’ and I will be so happy, so I don’t care. I don’t want to show nothing to anyone. I’m just saying that I’m trying to win games and to show to the players that if you do the things right, you will play no matter what the name.”

United are reportedly reluctant to sell Mainoo, who is the last remaining academy graduate in Amorim’s senior squad. Club sources say his departure would harm morale and undermine United’s bid to keep their 88-year streak of naming at least one homegrown player in every matchday squad.

Sir Alex Ferguson has warned that Manchester United may be some years away from another Premier League triumph, while expressing cautious optimism about recent recruitment.

Ferguson suggested a long cycle could lie ahead after a turbulent period at the club. Over the subsequent 12 years, there have been six permanent coaching appointments and not a single serious title challenge between them. Ruben Amorim, the current incumbent, was appointed midway through a 15th-place finish last term, the club’s lowest league position since they were relegated in 1974. At that point, Ferguson was still playing for Ayr United.

The Scot, remembered for his 13 Premier League titles, also reflected on his own early struggles. Midway through the 1989–90 campaign, which would see United slump to 13th, fan discontent produced a banner reading: “Three years of excuses and it’s still crap… ta ra Fergie.” He contrasted that era with Liverpool’s later wait for a title, which was ended by Jürgen Klopp in 2020.

“I remember looking back on my own time there [at Man Utd], starting off when Liverpool were the bee’s knees,” Ferguson recalled in an interview with Press Box PR this week. “They were a fantastic club winning the European Cup four times and all that, but then it took them 31 years to win the league again.

“We are now in the same situation. It could be 10 years, could be 11 years, because of that cycle. It has to be thought out carefully and we have to make sure the recruitment is going to be better than what it was.”

Despite his warning, Ferguson praised United’s summer business and singled out the new goalkeeper. “I think the appointment of the goalkeeper has made a difference,” the 83-year-old noted. “He’s young at 23, he’s quick, a big lad, good feet and hands, and I think that helps. I think they have needed that player. United have always had inspirational players over the years. I think that has helped.

“The other two, [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha, they look as if they will contribute to the recovery of our form.”

Amorim politely rejected the long-timeline prediction. “He understands football more than me, especially English football,” the Portuguese told assembled media on Friday. “I think we will not take that long to win a league and I don’t know which manager is going to be here, but I truly believe that we can fight for the title in the next years. I think it’s not going to take so many years, but you never know.”