Man Utd star reveals what Erik ten Hag told him after embarrassing Porto draw | OneFootball

Manchester United dropped points again after playing a lacklustre goalless draw with Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag changed the centre-back pairing with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans starting ahead of Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez.

It was a major surprise, but the decision helped United salvage a point after Evans produced a 7/10 performance.

He told Sky Sports: “We had to make it tight today and not try to give them too much space, and I think we did that well. We got a point against a good side away from home.

“The other night, conceding three (at Porto), we wanted to be more defensive-minded to give ourselves a chance. We were looking for that one moment of quality – maybe on the counter and we nearly got it.

“I still feel like I’m playing the game I always have, I still feel like I have speed in the legs to get me out of the bad moments. [Ten Hag] told me after the game the other night I’d play in this one.”

United allowed FC Porto to come back into the game after going 2-0 up in 20 minutes. Porto made it 3-2 right after half-time, leaving Ten Hag and his players stunned.

An injury-time strike from Harry Maguire helped United to rescue a point.

De Ligt and Martinez were terrible at the back. They failed to win duels and made basic errors, which allowed the hosts to score goals.

Many people expected Maguire to start ahead of De Ligt, but benching Martinez was a surprise call.

Evans’ performance justified the decision and he may have done enough to earn a more regular place in the starting XI.