The pundits have had their say ahead of United's final game of the Premier League season
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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim(Image: Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images.)
Manchester United have been warned their final game of the season against Aston Villa could 'get ugly' as they put to bed a dismal 2024/25 campaign.
United head into the clash in 16th place in the Premier League table and are looking to avoid the indignity of falling to 17th place and finishing just one place above the relegation zone.
Following Wednesday's 1-0 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, questions are beginning to be asked of manager Ruben Amorim as United prepare for a season without European football next term.
By contrast, Villa know a win could lift them into the top five and secure them a place in next season's Champions League.
It has been billed as a 'massive game' for Amorim as United look to build towards next season but a number of leading Premier League pundits aren't giving them much hope.
Here's how they believe they will fare against Unai Emery's side this afternoon.
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Chris Sutton
The former Celtic and Blackburn forward told BBC Sport: "This might seem like one of the most stupid things I have ever said, but this is a massive game for Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim.
"In the fall-out after their Europa League final defeat, there have been further question marks over his inability to change his system, and also how there is seemingly a lack of thought going into his substitutions after how late he left them against Spurs - his first changes came after 71 minutes.
"Amorim said after Wednesday's defeat in Bilbao that if the club's owners want to get rid of him, he would go without getting any compensation. When he comes out with stuff like that, it almost sounds to me as if he wants the sack.
"We had a lot of United fans on 606 after the game and I can understand both sides of the argument when it comes to Amorim's future.
"On one hand, he hasn't adapted his tactics to English football and you could say the United team has got worse under him, which is a hard thing to do after Erik ten Hag's stint in charge.
"But then you also have to consider how Amorim was kind of railroaded into taking the job in November, after being told he had to come in straightaway or he might not get the job at the end of the season. He said then that he needed to play his system, and he hasn't been able to bring his own players in to do that.
"His problem now, though, is even if he does get the backing of the United hierarchy and gets given the chance to bring his own players in this summer, who is going to want to come to Old Trafford?
"There is no European football as an incentive, and that is a massive problem.
"So, Amorim badly needs some kind of positive result to end the season with, and he would probably bite your hand off now if you offered him a draw against Aston Villa, who really need a win to have a chance of making the top five.
"With what's at stake for Villa, though, I am expecting them to take the points. Unai Emery's side will be too good for United, and Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers could really do some damage to their defence.
"I feel sorry for Amorim, because he seems like a really nice guy who is very likeable, but that won't help him keep his job.
"We asked one United fan who called up 606 on Wednesday night whether he would want to keep Amorim on and he said he would love to have Sunday lunch with him, but that's not the same as wanting him to stay on as manager, is it?"
Sutton's prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Aston Villa
Paul Merson
The Sky Sports pundit told SportsKeeda: "Manchester United are where they are for a reason. They are not a very good team! You know what?
"Even if Manchester United had time till now to score and win the Europa League final, they still wouldn't have done it. It was that bad.
"Ruben Amorim came out and said that he is ready to step down if the club wants to part ways with him. That's just an indirect way of him saying, 'put me out of this misery'. If you walk away, it makes you look weak. But saying that instead is like telling everyone you're prepared to give up. Amorim knew this would happen, he knew that this group had no chance, they have been a million miles off it this season.
"I don't think Manchester United would even want to play this game now. Aston Villa have been outstanding this season. They reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League and I think they will finish inside the top five. When the fixtures came out, they had a very tricky run of games in these final few weeks. But they have negotiated it well so far and I expect that to continue."
Merson's prediction: Manchester United 0-2 Aston Villa
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Mark Lawrenson
The former BBC Sport pundit told Paddy Power: "There’s no way Aston Villa don’t win this. They need to win, they’ll be motivated and Manchester United will be on the floor after their latest body blow on Wednesday night.
"I might be being generous to United with my prediction, this could get ugly."
Lawrenson's prediction: Manchester United 0-2 Aston Villa