Erik ten Hag has addressed his decision to start Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans for Manchester United against Aston Villa.

Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt started against FC Porto in the Europa League on Thursday night but they delivered poor performances and were both substituted.

Maguire was introduced to the game from the bench and scored in added time to secure a 3-3 draw, which has seen him return to the starting XI against Aston Villa.

Evans will start alongside Maguire in Birmingham and Martinez and De Ligt have been benched. "No, nothing to do," said Ten Hag to Sky Sports when asked whether that decision was down to needing reliable centre-backs, two players that he knew he could count on.

"There is always pressure but no more pressure than in any other game, Porto was also a very important game and before we played Spurs, an important game, and Crystal Palace, where we played very good, so every game is important. Don't make it too big, we are calm and composed.

"Not only the team but everyone in the club. We don't even raise this topic [of it being a big game], we have to improve as a team and it's a process.

"In every process you need a strong mentality, but we are focusing on our deficits in the game and we have to improve our deficits and have to move forward.

"They are a very good team, we don't have to discuss this, it's a challenge. They [Villa] beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League and they've also made some changes."

International breaks are synonymous with managerial changes and Ten Hag, who has overseen just three wins in all competitions this season, could be sacked if United lose at Villa Park.