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Aston Villa logo
Premier League | Gameweek 34
Jul 9, 2020 at 8.15pm UK
Villa Park
Manchester United logo

Aston Villa
0 - 3
Man Utd


Konsa (52'), Nakamba (81')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Fernandes (27' pen.), Greenwood (45+5'), Pogba (58')
Wan-Bissaka (40'), Matic (45+3'), Fred (87')

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: 'We need to be aware of Jack Grealish'

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: 'We need to be aware of Jack Grealish'
© Reuters
The 24-year-old scored the opener when the two teams played out a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in December.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is wary of the threat posed by swashbuckling Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish as Manchester United look to maintain their Champions League charge.

The 24-year-old has impressed during a challenging season for Dean Smith's promoted side and stole show when the sides drew 2-2 at Old Trafford in December.

Grealish scored the opener and presented all manner of problems for United, with Villa praying their captain can produce a similar standout display to kickstart their survival hopes in Thursday's reverse fixture.

The match also offers the chance to impress Solskjaer as talk continues to rumble on over a possible summer move to the Old Trafford giants.

"I think the last game obviously they caused us some problems, both Grealish off left and (Anwar) El Ghazi off the right," the United boss said.

"He scored a fantastic goal. There's been lots said and talked about him and we need to be aware of him.

"Whoever is close to him, if he's off the left, in the middle, on the right.

"What he does is attract players to him and create space for others, so there's not just one player in that Villa team. There's many of them."

The PA news agency understands United have looked at the impressive attacking midfielder as a potential signing but their priorities may well lie elsewhere given the way their attacking unit has flourished.

Last weekend's thrilling 5-2 win against Bournemouth extended their unbeaten run to 16 matches in all competitions and Solskjaer knows they must keep their pedal to the metal.

While their current fifth-placed position would be enough for Champions League qualification should Manchester City fail to overturn their European ban, United will secure a top-four finish if they win their remaining games.

Asked if he anticipated needing to win their final five Premier League matches to seal a return to European football's top table, Solskjaer said: "I think so, yeah.

"Of course, you never know what's going to happen but it looks like obviously the teams around are playing well.

"But there's so many games, so we've just focused on this one, the next one and that one. If you win every single one of them, we're in the top four. We cannot rely on help from anyone else.

"We just have to do it ourselves and that is to grow as a team and know that going into next season we can put in a different challenge to other teams as well in front of us."

United may have to do without Victor Lindelof at Villa Park after the Sweden international was forced off with a back complaint against Bournemouth.

Footage emerged of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaking to Nathan Ake after United beat Bournemouth
Footage emerged of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaking to Nathan Ake after United beat Bournemouth (Peter Powell/NMC Pool)

Eric Bailly had a few hairy moments having replaced the centre-back at half-time last weekend – a match from which footage emerged that fuelled talk that United are hoping to bolster their defence this summer.

Solskjaer appeared to tell Holland international Nathan Ake of his interest in him as the Bournemouth defender walked off the field, with the Red Devils boss also suggesting he wants to sign a left-footed centre-back.

When that was put to the Norwegian on Wednesday morning, he said: "I've got seven centre-backs, so I don't know where that's come from. We're fine."

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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith pictured on June 27, 2020
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


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