Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says Manchester United ‘are having some more problems’ at home than away in the Premier League this season.
The Red Devils have made huge improvements from their disastrous 2024-25 campaign in which they finished 15th in the top-flight without a trophy.
Ruben Amorim’s side are sixth in the Premier League table after 16 games this term, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea as they look to secure a top-four finish.
But United have only won four of their eight top-flight home games, losing to Arsenal and Everton at Old Trafford in August and November respectively before draws with West Ham and Bournemouth in December.
Those results mean United are higher in the Premier League away table (seventh) than the Premier League home table (11th) so far this season.
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‘[It will be] very difficult [for us this weekend],’ Emery said about United in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
‘Of course, it’s United. And United, not only for [their] history as well, how they are trying to build a team, and they are, this year, of course, trying to get [a] top position.
‘They are performing very, very well away [from home], very well. And winning matches and performing and playing fantastic.
‘At home, they are having some more problems than away, but I respect them a lot because their history, how they are performing, with the coach, new coach, last year and this year I think they are getting better.
‘With the players they have, they have very, very good players and offensively they are performing fantastic.
‘And we are ready, but we are respecting them and we are being humble.
‘Be humble, especially in this moment, we must be humble, to try to understand why we are performing like we are.’
Emery reveals ‘crazy’ stat before Man Utd game
Despite Emery highlighting United’s ‘problem’, it will have no bearing on this weekend’s clash between the two clubs, which is taking place at Villa Park in the West Midlands.
‘I think in 30, 31 years, only three times in 30 years or 31 years, only three times at home, Aston Villa beat Manchester United,’ Emery added.
‘And I think this is a really crazy number for Aston Villa, against Manchester United.’
The last meeting between the two sides at Villa Park ended in a 0-0 draw in October 2024.
Villa last beat United at home in November 2022, with a 3-1 victory that marked the perfect start to Emery’s reign as manager.
