Ronaldo and two other Problems Revealed – Manchester United have a bigger problem than their defending after Aston Villa defeat

Aston Villa’s wait is over after 9,941 days. Manchester United’s Adidas white kit will not go down in history as the funereal Umbro grey of 1995, but it is the outfit they wore for their first league defeat at Villa Park since August 1995.

United’s unbeaten league run at Villa Park, their home away from home since the dramatic 1983 FA Cup semi-final, came to an end. This was Villa’s first victory over United in Birmingham since 1999, breaking a streak of 24 games without a win.

The scoreline was the same as on the first day of the season in 1995 when United’s ‘youth’ was written off by Alan Hansen on Match of the Day. That season, United finished with a second domestic double. This season, the closest they’ll go is in the cups, and Villa visits Old Trafford on Thursday.

Villa had led United nine times since their previous victory in 1999 but had failed to win at Villa Park. United’s last prospect of making it ten came in a deceptive late first-half attack.

Ten Hag was convinced by Jacob Ramsey’s own goal to trust the starters who welcomed Unai Emery more warmly than Villa fans. As Villa’s players re-emerged, Ten Hag was still reeling enough to march into the center circle and deliver some last-minute advice for Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro, and Christian Eriksen.

Ten Hag’s confidence was misplaced. Within nine seconds, Leon Bailey had scythed through the United defense once more, putting David de Gea to the test. Ramsey scored four minutes later in the same goal, but on the right side.

Emery’s English is advanced enough for him to understand “give us a wave,” which he did. Emiliano Martinez bounced the ball on his head like a performing seal, exacerbating his dislike for the Manchester United fans he chastised following Bruno Fernandes’ airborne penalty last season. The chants of ‘Argentina’ for his compatriot and namesake Lisandro may have thrown him.

Ten Hag had talked briefly to Anthony Martial as he approached the tunnel during the first interval, but Martial was only told to warm up again once Villa reclaimed their two-goal lead.

Ten Hag’s indecisiveness with his revisions was uncharacteristic, and he was overly tolerant. He’s had a sobering week in terms of game management, so innocuous were his alterations in San Sebastian, and there’s no excuse for keeping Donny van de Beek.

Van de Beek is not employed. Marcus Rashford on the right is never effective. This season, Ronaldo has not performed well upfront. It was absurd. Ten Hag waited more than an hour, with United down 3-1, before making a personnel or tactical change in San Sebastian, while United began to shape-shift in the 58th minute, with only a goal necessary.

“He’ll cry in a minute,” chanted the Holte End as Ronaldo begged for a corner. The defiant and passionate United supporters died away in the dying embers, the away end dotted with claret and blue seats before six minutes of additional time was announced.

Van van Beek was finally one of three players replaced in the 65th minute of his first significant Premier League start for United in 701 days. United would have to wait just as long as Villa for a home win over them to coax a tune out of Van de Beek.

Victor Lindelof was a more dangerous choice, with Villa preying on his vulnerability to speed and strength. The combative Lisandro Martinez covered for Lindelof on several occasions, and it was only United’s Argentines – the other being full league debutant Alejandro Garnacho – who left unscathed.

Ronaldo removed his armband after a half-hour, claiming it was too constricting. It didn’t help his finishing, which was still sloppy when he met a cross seconds after Martinez stopped Garnacho’s drive. After the World Cup, United will be unable to replace Ronaldo.

United fans were clearly irritated by Van van Beek and Luke Shaw’s lack of daring, with the latter redeeming a dreadful first half by deflating Villa with a deflection off Jacob Ramsey.

If United’s hesitation to push goalkeeper Martinez at 0-0 appeared small at the time, it proved significant after Lucas Digne swung his left boot at a dead ball to make it 2-0 after 11 minutes.

Van van Beek, an oddball addition, mysteriously retreated from the outskirts of Martinez’s domain. Martinez’s teammates were similarly hesitant to confront him. United miscalculated how energized Villa would be as a result of Emery’s appointment.

Bailey, who was formerly scouted by Manchester United, ran rings around them in pre-season in Perth to signal a second-half Villa comeback, and he was on the front foot again, this time in the first half. Lindelof was drawn out of the backline like a moth to a flame, and Bailey outpaced the covering Lisandro Martinez, who was unsettled on the right side and outpaced by the clinical Bailey.

United had nine lives left. There would be no tenth.