How Unai Emery finally broke Aston Villa's curse by flattering Man United - and why Morgan Rogers is becoming undroppable for Thomas Tuchel at the World Cup, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE

This was the day Aston Villa might just have broken their Manchester United curse.

Villa's 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford on the final day of last season not only cost them Champions League football, it cast a shadow over the months that followed.

Emi Martinez’s rush-of-blood red card and Morgan Rogers’ controversial disallowed goal meant that Villa’s future was suddenly clouded in doubt.

Amid severe financial restrictions, they struggled to sign players. Current squad members were frustrated at the lack of transfer activity and this spilled into a dire early-season run where Villa did not score in the league until mid-September.

At that stage, it looked a challenge even to finish in the top half. As for Champions League nights, even the most optimistic Villa fan would have thought they were long gone.

Villa have roared back into contention with 10 wins in a row. Though they were much more impressive against Manchester City and Arsenal , there is something about beating United that will them additional belief.

Morgan Rogers provided two sumptuous goals to secure Aston Villa their tenth win in a row

Unai Emery masterminded another important win against Man United to keep pace with the league leaders

This was only Villa’s second win over United in 27 home games in the league. They are 10 points clear of Ruben Amorim’s men and, with fifth place likely to earn Champions League qualification, the nine-point buffer to Sunderland in sixth feels similarly significant.

Villa rode their luck. Rogers scored two spectacular goals and Bruno Fernandes went off injured at half-time. The home side looked tired long before full-time and face Chelsea and Arsenal away in the space of four days after Christmas.

But beating United means Villa can finally forget about Old Trafford last May. And with that behind them, who knows what else they might have to look forward to.

No manager with any sense will deride the opposition in the programme yet Unai Emery’s words about Manchester United still took you by surprise.

Bear in mind that United finished 15th last season, 24 points adrift of Villa. They started the day seven points behind and Villa had won nine in a row. Yet to read Emery’s words, it felt like Villa were facing one of Europe’s finest.

‘One of the biggest clubs and one of the most talented squads in the league,’ he wrote. ‘How difficult it always is to face such a big historical and skilful team.’

Really? The description would apply to many United teams of the past, but surely not this one. Nobody expected Emery to tee off in his programme notes but his reverential tones hinted at something deeper.

Villa have never enjoyed facing United and before today had beaten them only once in their previous 26 league meetings at Villa Park. That 3-1 victory in November 2022 was Emery’s first game in charge and though the Spaniard has transformed this club, this is one trend he has been unable to correct.

Since that win more than three years ago, Emery has lost five and drawn one against United.

Villa’s standout results this season were the home wins over City and Arsenal and in both, Emery’s team went full throttle from the off. They did so for the first 10 minutes here and John McGinn, Ollie Watkins and Rogers all went close.

At that stage, you expected Villa to produce more of the same. Instead, they were happy to retreat into their shape and try to test United’s high line with long balls over the top. With Watkins still fighting for form, this plan brought little joy. When Villa tried to build from the back, they were laboured and kept being caught in possession.

In such situations, it is handy to have a game-breaker like Rogers in the team. No matter the dynamics of a game, players like Rogers will find a way through and his curling strike to open the scoring was just as impressive as the winner at West Ham last weekend.

A defensive lapse from Villa – nearly identical to the one that gifted West Ham a goal – allowed Matheus Cunha to level for United yet early in the second half Rogers was at it again, producing another fabulous finish that arced into the far corner for the winner.

The England starlet is a shoo-in to start in the first match of next year's World Cup in Dallas

Thomas Tuchel has always been a huge fan of Rogers. Soon after taking the job, Tuchel made sure Rogers knew exactly how much he admired him and the England boss has been as good as his word, making Rogers a key member of his starting XI.

Jude Bellingham is back in the squad now and it would be a brave coach who would leave out the Real Madrid man. Yet Tuchel cares little for reputations and when England open their World Cup campaign, Rogers will surely be in the line-up.

The beauty of Rogers is that he can do damage anywhere across the front line. Tuchel sees him as a No10 and he has played there for Villa too, while proving equally effective on the left and right. Along with Youri Tielemans and McGinn, Emery regards Rogers as his most tactically astute player.

Most of Europe’s top clubs made checks on Rogers last summer but stepped back when it was clear Villa wanted more than the £100million they received from Manchester City for Jack Grealish in summer 2021.

At the time, it seemed they were pricing Rogers too high. On current evidence, Villa co-owner Nassef Sawiris got it spot on. And by the end of next summer, he may be able to ask for substantially more.