Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has declared that Manchester United are on the 'same level as Barcelona,' framing Sunday's Old Trafford clash as a 'very difficult' challenge. Despite Villa's recent 3-0 Champions League defeat to the Spanish champions, Emery insists his side must perform at their best to compete. Villa travel to United seeking to extend their five-game unbeaten run, while piling pressure on Michael Carrick, who has managed just one league win all season.
Emery's record at Old Trafford remains bleak, having never won there in his career, with Villa losing their last six meetings at the ground. 'It's Manchester United and we have very clear samples, we didn't win one match there for four years,' Emery noted. He acknowledged United's quality, highlighting their Champions League participation last season and potential to regain consistency. The match represents a critical juncture for both clubs as Villa aim to build momentum and United seek stability under Carrick.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing