Erik ten Hag set to face Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa as Man Utd’s pre-season tournament fixtures are revealed

MANCHESTER UNITED have announced they will face Aston Villa in Australia on Erik Ten Hag's first pre-season tour.

Ten Hag, 52, was confirmed as the club's next permanent manager last week and will replace interim boss Ralf Rangick in the summer.

In the club's first overseas tour since Covid, United will go head-to-head with Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa.

The report that the Red Devils will fly to Perth, Australia to face the Villans at the impressive Optus Stadium on July 23.

The club will take on bitter rivals Liverpool in Bangkok to kick off their pre-season.

The game for the Centenary Cup will take place on July 12 at the Rajamangala stadium in the Thai capital.

United will then fly to Australia for their first visit to Melbourne since 1999.

They will play at the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground against local A-League team Melbourne Victory on July 15.

And then Crystal Palace on July 19, before the Villa game to top off the tour.

Meanwhile, former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has warned Man Utd that hiring Ten Hag represents “a bit of a gamble”.

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But the famous old shot stopper goes on to explain that it's a "very, very positive" step to fix their problems.

Schmeichel explained: “Announcing the manager is a decision that needed to be made, because it’s a step in the right direction. 

“If I’m honest, it could be him – it could be literally anyone – it’s such a big job, so everything would be a bit of a gamble.

“I wish him all the best and I hope he can help in the process of rebuilding Man Utd.

“It’s a decision that’s been made and I think that’s very, very positive. 

“There are, and I think it’s obvious to everyone, so many things that need to be done at Man Utd.”