Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has picked out a surprise Manchester United player as the danger man ahead of their Premier League encounter.
Villa welcome United to Villa Park on Sunday, with Emery’s side starting the weekend fourth in the Premier League and eyeing a place in next season’s Champions League.
Meanwhile, United are languishing in sixth, but have been buoyed by three wins in a week, including a 3-0 demolition of West Ham United last Sunday.
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With Villa having crashed out of the FA Cup in midweek, Emery insisted he is not taking Erik ten Hag’s United lightly.
Among the players he name-checked as a threat ahead of the game, was Luke Shaw, a full-back who, while an impressive defender, has registered just four goals and 29 assists in his 273 games for United.
“My concern and analysis of them is trying to understand their game plan and to understand their qualities, collectively and individually,” Emery said in Friday’s presser.
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“We have to try to stop them, starting with the goalkeeper because his build-up is fantastic.
“Their centre-backs like to play, building up and controlling ball possession, trying to get good combinations on the pitch.
“Luke Shaw is very dangerous and Diogo Dalot is in a good moment. Casemiro is a very important player for them; they have very good wingers and strikers and that is my concern.
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“The most important thing for me, individually and collectively, as a coach is to prepare to try to stop them.”
A win for the visitors this weekend would move United to within five points of Villa and keep the Old Trafford club’s hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
Ten Hag said: "I have said to the team from the start of January that every game is now a final. That was also our approach to West Ham United – we were one point behind them so this is a final. So let's take this challenge.
“We have to see this as a final. That will be every game from now on, for us. We are already in that mood."
Topics: Football, Unai Emery, Manchester United, Aston Villa
Chris Byfield