Manchester United have had a dismal start to the season, managing just six points from their first six Premier League games. Manager Michael Carrick is under immense pressure following a disappointing home draw against ten-man Tottenham.
One of the key issues plaguing the team has been a lacklustre midfield performance. Critics have expressed their dissatisfaction with Carrick's persistent selection of the partnership of £35 million new signing Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo, while overlooking the likes of Carlos Baleba and Andre Santos.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher explained why the Belgian midfielder is struggling at his new club without adequate structural support.
"Why did Tielemans look so good at Aston Villa yet struggle at United? When you look at Unai Emery's team, they train to the point of exhaustion every day, and every time you watch Aston Villa play, they are compact and unified. When you have a player who isn't particularly athletic, which is the case here, you need the team to be super compact. The situation here is the complete opposite. This is a problem Liverpool had last season with Alexis Mac Allister. This season, Mac Allister looks better because the team plays tighter and more compact, and that's what United need to do. If not, Tielemans won't stick around long, and he won't be in the starting XI."
Former United captain Gary Neville also critiqued Carrick's tactical decisions in his podcast, pointing out that the current midfield duo is simply incompatible.
"We've seen enough of Tielemans and Mainoo together. I'm not writing them off entirely, that might be too drastic, but I've seen plenty to know that this midfield lacks the dynamism required to play for this club in the Premier League. They both are good players individually, but sometimes you have players who just don't mix well together. When Baleba came on for Mainoo, it felt like there was so much more energy. Changes need to be made, and everyone else needs to step up too. They're heading to Diego Simeone's Atletico and to Elland Road. If they're not mentally and physically prepared, they'll be torn apart. They have a few days to recover, regroup, and get going, because if not, we're in for a tricky few weeks ahead."
Tonight, Manchester United face a daunting away tie in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid. Mainoo has not travelled with the squad to Spain, so it’s expected that Carlos Baleba or Andre Santos will start in his place.
