TEN AARGH!

The pressure's mounting and, with top-four spot unlikely, even FA Cup glory might not be enough to save boss from Sir Jim's axe

- DAVID MCDONNELL

ON the face of it, Manchester United enjoyed a productive weekend, closing the gap on fourth-placed Aston Villa to eight points in the race for a Champions League spot.

Tottenham's emphatic 4-0 win at Villa Park breathed new life into United's unlikely bid to snatch fourth place and Erik ten Hag's hopes of keeping his job beyond the end of the season.

United are not back in Premier League action until after the international break, with their next assignment a home FA Cup quarter-final against Liverpool on Sunday.

FA Cup glory and securing a Champions League place are, realistically, Ten Hag's only chances of keeping his job, with new United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (above) having already set about shaking up the personnel on the football side of the club.