Jonny Evans says Manchester United’s players stay together and give everything to lift themselves out of a trough that has led to feverish speculation over the future of manager Erik ten Hag.
Sunday’s battling 0-0 draw at high-flying Aston Villa means the Red Devils stumbled into the international break without a win in five matches in all competitions. United have only won three games all season and have taken a measly eight points from their opening seven league games – the lowest tally at this stage of a campaign that the club has recorded since 1989/90.
Despite this, Ten Hag is still convinced he retains the support of the club hierarchy – the hierarchy is due to convene in a pre-arranged monthly meeting on Tuesday.
Sunday’s surprise starter Evans, an experienced centre-back, admitted the speculation “does affect the players”, but underlined the importance of unity.
“As a player you know what you’ve got to do,” said the 36-year-old academy graduate afterwards. “We’ve all been playing football for a long time.
“For us, it is about not giving in, sticking together. My experience is that you have always shown that on the pitch, and that was pleasing to do today.”
The stalemate at Villa Park came a week after an alarming 3-0 home collapse to Tottenham. Days later, the team blew a two-goal lead at Porto before scraping a 3-3 draw.
United showed spirit to level at the death in Portugal and it was symptomatic of their togetherness that has been evident in Birmingham, both during the game and in a pre-match huddle.
“I don’t know who organised that,” said the former Northern Ireland international Evans. “It wasn’t planned so I’m guessing it was Brunuo. “I’m sure Bruno, if he organised it, it was a way to get a message across before we went on the pitch. I’ve been involved in huddles in the past and it’s a way to come together before you go out and play.”
United manage an improvement in terms of solidity at the back but then find themselves toothless in attack at Villa Park. Only promoted Southampton have found the net on fewer occasions than United in the PL so far.
