Manchester United slipped to a narrow defeat at Villa Park in their final Premier League outing before Christmas, despite producing long spells of authority against an in-form Aston Villa side. Matheus Cunha continued his encouraging run by netting his third goal of the campaign, yet Morgan Rogers once again proved decisive, striking twice to tilt the contest in the hosts’ favour.
Ruben Amorim’s side controlled large phases of the match and matched Villa tactically for much of the evening. However, a lack of ruthlessness in key moments, coupled with Rogers’ clinical edge, ultimately left the Red Devils empty-handed.
Amorim Adapts Again
Amorim once more demonstrated his willingness to adjust his approach based on the opposition. After deploying a 4-3-3 in the chaotic draw with Bournemouth, he opted for a more fluid midfield structure against Villa, designed to disrupt Unai Emery’s build-up play.
United often operated with a single pivot in Manuel Ugarte ahead of the back three, allowing Bruno Fernandes to push higher and influence play between the lines. Mason Mount and Cunha drifted into inside channels rather than occupying traditional number 10 roles, stretching Villa’s compact 4-4-2 mid-block horizontally.
When Villa’s wide midfielders tracked back, United found space centrally instead of forcing low-percentage crosses. Benjamin Sesko’s movement beyond the defensive line caused repeated problems, one of which forced a sharp save from Emiliano Martinez. The tactical plan was coherent and largely effective, even if the final outcome failed to reflect it.
Fernandes Injury Worries United
One of the most concerning moments of the evening arrived midway through the first half, when Fernandes pulled up clutching his hamstring. Since arriving at Old Trafford in 2020, the Portuguese midfielder has been remarkably resilient, rarely missing matches through injury.
Fernandes attempted to play on and completed the first half, but he was withdrawn at the interval. Given his importance to United’s structure and creativity, Amorim will be anxiously awaiting further assessments, particularly with a congested fixture list looming.
Martinez Gets An Unexpected Role
United’s midfield issues deepened before kick-off, with confirmation that Kobbie Mainoo had suffered an injury and was unavailable. Combined with Casemiro’s suspension and Fernandes’ withdrawal, Amorim was forced into an unconventional solution.
Lisandro Martinez was asked to step into midfield, a role Amorim had previously suggested could be explored. The World Cup winner adapted impressively, showing composure in possession and aggression without the ball. His performance suggested he could provide emergency cover as a defensive midfielder.
Villa’s Rogers Shines Again
Ultimately, the difference came down to Morgan Rogers, who continues to produce decisive contributions at a remarkable rate. Fresh from a brace against West Ham, he followed up with two superb finishes against United, underlining his growing influence.
His first goal was a moment of individual brilliance. After recovering from a heavy touch, he surged past Leny Yoro before curling a precise effort beyond Senne Lammens. Rogers required just 32 touches across the match, the fewest of any outfield player to complete the full 90 minutes, yet he was ruthlessly effective when it mattered. Villa are benefitting enormously from a player operating with supreme confidence, while United were left to reflect on a performance that deserved more, but ultimately delivered nothing.
