Manchester United took a huge step towards a return to the Champions League on Sunday, defeating top-five rivals Aston Villa 3-1 at Old Trafford. It means United are now clear in third place and are only seven points behind second-placed Manchester City.
United boss Michael Carrick chose to recall Amad Diallo to the starting XI, in place of Benjamin Sesko, with Bryan Mbeumo moving up front. And that looked to be a sub-optimal decision in a pedestrian first half as United’s best opportunities were created from out wide, but with no one there to get on the end of them.
So there was irony that when United did finally score — eight minutes into the second half — it came from a cross. Bruno Fernandes delivered an outswinging corner and Casemiro produced a fantastic header to power the ball past Emi Martinez. Eleven minutes later, Villa were level, Ross Barkley rifling home after the ball had been recycled back into United’s box from a Villa corner.
But Bruno Fernandes cannot be kept quiet for long this season, and another assist — his 16th of the campaign, a United Premier League record — put Matheus Cunha through to make it 2-1. Fernandes is now only four short of the all-time seasonal record, with eight games remaining. Substitute Benjamin Sesko then made the game safe with a smart turn and finish to make it 3-1.
Chris McKenna analyses the action from Old Trafford.
A vital win in a huge six-pointer
When Unai Emery’s side beat Ruben Amorim’s United 2-1 at Villa Park back in December, they were 10 points ahead of them at full time, now they are three behind them with eight games left to play.
This was such an important win given that United came into it on the back of a disappointing defeat away at Newcastle, where they had toiled against 10 men for more than a full half.
But Chelsea’s defeat to Newcastle on Saturday meant this was a chance for United to move six points clear of Liam Rosenior’s side, who currently occupy fifth but will drop to sixth if Liverpool get a point or more from a home clash with Tottenham Hotspur later today. United are now also three clear of Villa.
All of which means with eight games to go, United are in a seriously strong position as they look to return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 season.
They have that firmly in their own control now and not securing a return would be seen as a big disappointment from here.
Before the season and even towards the end of Amorim’s time in charge, qualifying for any European competition would probably have been deemed as a positive step in the right direction.
Now United have the opportunity to get back among Europe’s elite and access to the financial riches which come with it.
(Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
Another Casemiro and Fernandes masterclass
There was a time when most felt Casemiro needed to be moved on. Now the question is: how do United replace him?
Given his substantial wages — up to £350,000 a week — and his age, it is probably the right call to not trigger a one-year extension in his deal but his performances this season and importance to the team mean he is leaving a huge void.
It wasn’t just the Brazilian’s goal here — a superb header from a Fernandes corner to give him his seventh of the season — but also his all-round midfield play which was so key to this victory. Casemiro was the United player trying to move the ball forward when in possession, sometimes that meant a loss of the ball, but it showed bravery to keep trying things which kept the midfield ticking over.
As usual, Casemiro was happy putting his foot in — picking up a yellow card for his troubles — with plenty of his defensive contributions key to cutting out Villa attacks.
(Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)
While we know Casemiro will be departing Old Trafford this summer, speculation continues to surround Bruno Fernandes’ future too, and this was another game that showed United definitely cannot afford to lose both.
They already need to bring in at least two midfielders but Fernandes is increasingly irreplaceable. A pair of assists against Villa took him to 16 for the season, no other Premier League player has even reached double figures in 2025-26. Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry’s all-time record of 20 is well within sight for him.
Was dropping Sesko the right decision?
The dropping of Benjamin Sesko to the bench appeared a strange decision by Carrick. Yes, the Slovenian was largely ineffective against Newcastle in United’s last outing, but there were other poor performers that night in the north east.
Bryan Mbeumo was one of them, but he retained his starting spot, returning to the middle of the attack where, to his credit, he had impressed against the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal.
The decision not to go with a natural No 9 also allowed more fluidity in the front line, which saw Mbeumo coast out wide and Matheus Cunha float into the middle, along with Amad Diallo.
Still, United’s best opportunities early on came from out wide. Cunha played a delightful cross through the six-yard area that someone of Sesko’s size may have reached but the smaller Amad had little chance.
Diogo Dalot also put in a cross that looked perfect for a towering forward but none of those on the pitch could reach. Time and time again, United went for the cross but even when they had the aerial ability of Casemiro and Harry Maguire forward, they couldn’t get on the end of them.
Dalot delivered plenty of crosses in the first half but to no avail (Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)
Sesko was watching from the bench as crosses that looked perfect for him continued to rain in. In total, there were 14 played by United in the first half but only one reached a man in a red shirt. It was a strange tactic but Villa seemed comfortable allowing United to deliver the balls, safe in the knowledge they had the height in Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa to deal with them and certainly happier with that scenario than allowing the ball to come through the middle as often.
The opening goal did come from a cross, so maybe they were all worth it. Casemiro’s opener was the 20th time a cross had been delivered in this game, yet just the second time a United player had got on the end of one. It was a fine header, too, but the fact remains Carrick has only started Sesko twice in his nine games in charge so it increasingly looks like playing without an out-and-out striker is his preferred approach.
Of course, Sesko’s goal from the bench in the second half could change his manager’s mind but, equally, if he keeps making an impact as a substitute, Carrick can point to his policy as a sensible strategy.
What did Carrick say?
The United head coach was asked about Casemiro’s impending departure. “Case has been fantastic, he’s a big player for us and a big player in the dressing room. But as a club and as a team players come and go, some more important than others. It’s never about replacing them like for like. You can go in different directions, see what balance the squad needs. Case has done some really, really good things since I’ve been here and an absolute pleasure to work with.”
Carrick also commented on Bruno’s future. “In terms of the club and moving forward, it’s difficult for me to get involved. Bruno isn’t someone we want to lose. Beyond that it’s difficult for me to go too far with that. He’s important for us and not someone we want to lose.”
What next for United?
Friday, March 20: Bournemouth (away), Premier League, 8pm UK, 4pm ET