Youri Tielemans firmly backs Carrick: 'I came here because of him'

Manchester United midfielder Youri Tielemans has come out in support of manager Michael Carrick amid growing speculation over the Englishman's future following a string of poor results. The Belgium international called for stability at Old Trafford, warning that another managerial change could only deepen the club's struggles.

"I came here partly because of him, because he wanted me in the team. He wanted me to help the squad. That's why I'm really happy he's staying, and the whole group doesn't want sudden change. We don't want a major upheaval that rocks the boat even more. We need stability, we need to keep working hard, and at some point things will turn around," Tielemans said in an interview with TNT Sports.

The Belgian, who joined United from Aston Villa in the summer after holding talks with Carrick, insisted the manager retains the full backing of the dressing room. "Since I've been here, he's always done his job. He tried to implement a system where we all feel comfortable. I can only speak positively about him, and I'm sure everyone in the dressing room would say the same. We have to stick together and turn this situation around," the midfielder added.

Tielemans also addressed the recent public criticisms from Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martínez aimed at United's hierarchy and coaching staff. While acknowledging such matters are best kept in-house, he believes they simply highlight the players' burning desire to fix the situation. "We're all different, and sometimes when frustration builds up, we might use different words and have different opinions. That's completely normal, as long as it stays within the group. We all want to win games and turn things around," he explained.

Manchester United are currently enduring an eight-game winless run across all competitions, sitting 16th in the Premier League with just seven points from their opening eight matches—a single point above the relegation zone. The pressure on Carrick has intensified following heavy defeats to Como (4-1) in the Champions League and Bournemouth (3-0) in the league. The Red Devils travel to face Chelsea on Saturday, and Tielemans admitted he understands the frustration of the supporters, who booed the team off the pitch after their latest setback.