Erik ten Hag was in a defiant mood as he insisted Manchester United were improving after their goalless draw with Aston Villa. United earned a clean sheet and a point against a below-par Villa to lift the pressure on Ten Hag ahead of the international break.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's reaction at full-time at Villa Park said it all as Manchester United could only manage a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday. It comes amid huge pressure on Erik ten Hag, who had been told he had two games to save his United career after a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham last week.

Manchester United minority owner Jim Ratcliffe has flown in to personally watch the team play Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday as the pressure mounts on manager Erik ten Hag. Ratcliffe took his seat at Villa Park alongside United’s new leadership team of chief executive Omar Berrada,