Unai Emery makes Old Trafford admission ahead of Man Utd vs Aston Villa

Unai Emery admits his Aston Villa side face a “huge challenge” when they travel to Old Trafford on Sunday, despite Manchester United’s struggles this season. It will be the Spaniard’s 200th Premier League game.

Manchester United are winless in their last seven Premier League games, but they did manage to win last time out, beating Roma 3-2 in the Champions League. The pressure is still on Michael Carrick because a defeat this weekend could see them spending the November international break in the relegation zone.

If United can make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season, the pressure may ease a little – until United travel to Liverpool on November 22. Carrick is hanging on by a thread amid reports that contact had been made with Didier Deschamps, after the 58-year-old left his role as France national team manager following the 2026 World Cup.

Carrick has taken charge of one game against Aston Villa as United head coach. It took place at Old Trafford in March and ended 3-1 in favour of the Reds, courtesy of goals from Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. As a result, Unai Emery is still looking for his first win at Old Trafford.

Unai Emery expects “huge challenge” against Man Utd at Old Trafford

Emery has faced United 18 times in his managerial career from his spells at Valencia, Arsenal, Villarreal and Aston Villa. There have been highs and lows for the Spanish coach, ranging from winning the 2021 Europa League final on penalties in Gdansk to failing to win on all five of his trips to Old Trafford.

Villa have won their last two away Premier League matches, but they will be mindful of the fact that United have only lost two of their 31 Premier League home games against them. Carrick will be hoping to ensure Emery doesn’t record his first away win over the Reds this weekend.

• Aston Villa’s Premier League wins at Old Trafford
• 2009/10: Manchester United 0-1 Aston Villa
• 2021/22: Manchester United 0-1 Aston Villa

Although United’s form has been heavily scrutinised by the media, Emery has stressed that he’s yet to win a match at Old Trafford. He is anticipating a difficult match.

“It’s Manchester United, and we have very clear examples,” Emery told journalists at his press conference on Friday. “We didn’t win one match there.

“Four years I am here, travelling to Manchester to play against them, [and] we have lost. Even in the first match played, Carabao Cup, we lost 3-0, four years ago. So, for us, it’s very difficult. Manchester United is a fantastic club. They are performing very good last year, achieving to play Champions League.

“This year, as well, they are [in the] Champions League, playing well. In the league, they started a little bit not being consistent, but should recover their consistency in the Premier League, hopefully not on Sunday against us. So, it’s a very, very difficult match.”

When asked about his record at Old Trafford, Emery added: “Old Trafford is a huge challenge – for me, for the players, for our trajectory here together, because we are not winning there.

“Even we had some hard defeats, like two years ago when we were close on the last match, the day 38, to be in the Champions League, and we lost. We lost it. So, it’s always very, very difficult there. We must play in our best – in our best individual and collective way.”