Erik ten Hag Matchday Q and A before Aston Villa match 30 April 2023

Villa are in a good run of form, they were 16th when [Unai] Emery took over and now they’re pushing for Europe. So how tough a test will they be?
”Yeah, definitely. Big test. We have proven we can beat them in the Carabao Cup [when] we did, [but] in the weekend before, we had a tough day in Birmingham [against them] and we want to get revenge for it.”

Sunday is one of four games left at Old Trafford. It’s become a fortress. How important is it to maintain that and make it a place teams don’t like to come to? 
”No team likes to come to Old Trafford. We are strong, it’s in our minds and we will go on Sunday and we need the fans behind us because I think that cooperation between the fans, the players, the team is so strong and the bond, we have to strengthen it even more. But you have to prove it every time. On Sunday it is a new test and you have to start from zero.”

Finally, Alejandro Garnacho has signed a new contract with the club. I know work continues with him just as work continues here, we can hear the machinery in the background, but how much more is there to come from him and how pleased are you with his development so far?
”I am very pleased with the development. A the start of the season you always hope that you can bring one or two players from the Academy up into the first team, and he made it. Today is a day for celebration for him but it has to be an inspiration and a motivation especially, because it’s a new start as well. Expectations will be higher and we expect him to contribute even more to Man United and we want to win trophies and to be successful, to win every game. I need a player who has the standard of good is not good enough. We have to do better.”