Harry Maguire sends clear message on who is to blame for Manchester United slump

Manchester United head to Aston Villa on Sunday on the back of four games without a win, with manager Erik ten Hag under huge pressure ahead of the international break

Harry Maguire says Manchester United's players must accept responsibility for their poor start to the season and take the pressure off Erik ten Hag.

Ten Hag's job is on the line after a dismal start to the season, which has seen United win just three of their opening nine games in all competitions. United have failed to win any of their last four games and needed a 91st-minute equaliser from Maguire to draw 3-3 in Porto on Thursday, having led 2-0.

Ten Hag's side also suffered humiliating back-to-back 3-0 Premier League defeats at home to Liverpool and Tottenham, which have nudged him closer to the sack. Against that backdrop, Ten Hag knows he cannot afford to lose at Aston Villa on Sunday, if he is to be sure of keeping his job after the international break.

But Maguire said United's players cannot hide behind their manager and must find it within themselves to dig their way out of trouble – starting at Villa. “Obviously it's not good enough,” said Maguire. “For sure, we've got to do more. As a footballer, it's easy to look around and blame other people and blame your team-mates or blame the staff or the tactics.

“But you've got to look at yourself. We're the ones that go on the pitch. We're the ones that have to defend. You've got to take responsibility and each and every one of us has got to do better in these moments.

“When we're under pressure, I feel like as a team, over the last couple of years, I'd say last year or so, every time we've been under pressure in games, we've ended up conceding and that can't happen. We've got to be able to withstand that pressure, have better principles within ourselves and up the tempo a lot better when we're defending our box.

“I know when you go through difficult moments and everything, everyone piles on you. In difficult times, you've got to come through and you've got to stick together within the group. The 11 bodies go out there and play football, you've got to stick together within the team, within the squad and have that belief.

Image: UEFA via Getty Images) UEFA via Getty Images)

“We've proven over the last couple of seasons with the manager that we can beat anybody when we perform. But the problem has been consistency and we need to start showing that.

“When you play for this club or manage this club and you go through a difficult period of results, pressure comes on. Everyone speaks, everyone talks. The manager's more than experienced enough. That's what comes with the job. So, yes, we're fighting together.”

United won 2-1 at Villa Park last season and Maguire, who is set to start on Sunday ahead of Matthijs De Ligt, said the players will draw on that victory for inspiration. “We've got to find belief within ourselves and take the belief from what we did last season at Villa Park,” said Maguire.

“It was on fire last season there. Then we went there and got the victory that we needed last season. We feel like we're playing better than we were last season, just the results haven't been there.

“Obviously, the performance was really poor against Spurs. Apart from that, I feel like we should have more points on the board. But they're not there, so we need to do something about it, starting with Sunday. It's a tough game, but what a great place to go and play and try and get three points.”

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