Manchester United must hit back from Liverpool humiliation but face ‘great enemy’ Pellegrini who has beaten Ten Hag this season and has never conceded a goal to Red Devils in Europe

Manchester United face a tough task to bounce back from their Liverpool humiliation when they renew hostilities with Manuel Pellegrini this week.

The Red Devils return to Europa League action by hosting Real Betis this week just days after suffering a historic 7-0 defeat to their rivals.

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Erik ten Hag stepped up sessions with United’s club psychologist after watching his side ship SIX goals in the second-half at Anfield.

But perhaps just as alarming was United’s lack of ability to score against a leaky Liverpool defence, which doesn’t bode well for the Betis game.

Pellegrini has faced United four times previously in European competition and has never tasted defeat – or even conceded a goal.

“I’m sure they see me as the great enemy,” Pellegrini laughed while speaking to the Telegraph.

The 69-year-old was Villarreal manager when they memorably reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2005/06 before losing narrowly to Arsenal.

On route the Spaniards went undefeated to top Group D after Pellegrini masterminded two goalless draws against United to seal progression, which also led to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side crashing out after finishing bottom.

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Three years later United had the chance to seal revenge and they had the team to do it – with Cristiano Ronaldo inspiring the club to Premier League and League Cup success in the final season of his first Old Trafford stint.

Fergie’s men also reached the final of the 2008/09 Champions League, having reunited with Pellegrini’s Villarreal in the group stage.

However, once again United were thwarted both home and away, with another two goalless draws helping The Yellow Submarine finish second behind the English giants in Group E.

Pellegrini later joined the club’s local rivals Man City in 2013, and he romped to a decisive 4-1 win in his first Manchester derby.

Later in his first season, the Chilean became the first manager in the post-Ferguson era to win a Premier League title.

Out of the 13 games he has managed against United in total, which included tenures at City and West Ham, he has only lost three times.

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His most reason game in the opposite dugout to the Devils was also a victorious one as he steered West Ham to a 2-0 triumph in 2019.

In doing so he became the first-ever Premier League boss to defeat four different United managers after previous successes over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes.

And he’s even technically beaten a fifth already, with Betis downing Ten Hag’s United 1-0 during their mid-season tour of Spain in December.

Although that friendly was never about the result, the return meeting on Thursday will be and Pellegrini will relish the chance to pile misery on United once again…

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