Youri Tielemans has publicly backed Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, urging the club's hierarchy to keep faith with him amid a poor run of form.
Carrick retained his job on Tuesday despite speculation he would be sacked following heavy defeats to Como and Bournemouth. United's chiefs considered appointing Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, or Antonio Conte before deciding to stick with Carrick for now.
Struggles on the Pitch
United have won just two of their 12 games in all competitions and sit 16th in the Premier League with seven points from eight matches. This represents the club's worst start to a league campaign in 40 years.
Their only wins have come against newly-promoted Ipswich and Champions League minnows Sabah. The team has kept just one clean sheet all season and is currently on an eight-game winless run.
Carrick's Supporters
"I came here partly because of him, because he wanted me here," Tielemans told TNT Sports. "He wanted me to help the team out. So I’m very happy for him to stay, and the whole group, we don't want a sudden change."
"We don't want a big change that is going to disrupt things more than they are. We just need stability, we need to keep working hard, and it’s going to turn at some point."
Stability and Unity
Tielemans, signed for £35 million from Aston Villa in the summer, praised Carrick's work despite the results. "Since I’ve come in, he’s always done his work," the Belgium international added. "He’s tried to put a system in place that we all feel comfortable in."
Carrick's position has been complicated by public outbursts from Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes, though he held clear-the-air talks with captain Fernandes this week. Tielemans believes the squad is united, saying, "Everyone is like they are. It's just a case of trying to do that in the right tone, the right moment."
Carrick faces a make-or-break match against Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
