Youri Tielemans at Stamford Bridge
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Manchester United’s winless run was extended to nine matches on Saturday as Youri Tielemans was dropped from the team for the first time this season.
The pressure continues to pile up on Michael Carrick as relegation-related conversations begin. Unless Manchester United find a solution to turn the results around, that’s exactly where they are heading, regardless of who the manager is.
United’s 2-0 defeat against Chelsea wasn’t the first time the Reds have collapsed in the second half this season. The visitors were the better team for the first 45 minutes, but Chelsea scored four minutes after the break, and it wasn’t long before Lisandro Martinez’s second yellow card saw the team reduced to 10 men and two goals behind.
The biggest change Carrick made to the team came in midfield as Bruno Fernandes returned to his favoured role as a No. 10 rather than being shoehorned out wide. It came at a cost for one of his teammates.
Youri Tielemans overlooked against Chelsea
Youri Tielemans hasn’t exactly been pulling up trees since signing for United in the summer. It didn’t even come as a surprise that he was left out of the line-up, after starting all previous Premier League matches this season.
Obviously, the decision was a tactical one. Fernandes returned to his preferred role, Andrey Santos partnered Carlos Baleba in midfield, and Matheus Cunha attacked from the left flank. This was the first time Tielemans was dropped to the bench.
United were chasing the game for most of the second half, but it was perhaps telling that he did not turn to Tielemans, who is renowned for his creativity – even though we’ve seen little evidence of that this season.
Carrick looked to four other substitutes instead of Tielemans: Kobbie Mainoo, Ayden Heaven, Mason Mount, and Joshua Zirkzee.
Furthermore, Fernandes didn’t exactly cover himself in glory despite playing in his preferred position. His dithering conceded possession, and he wasted a good chance on goal in the first half. This is proof that right now, there is no obvious fit in the United line-up, with so many players underperforming at once.
Bruno Fernandes stats against Chelsea
Minutes played: 90
Touches: 80
Distance covered: 11.8km
Accurate passes: 41/60 (68%)
Created the joint-most chances (3)
It will be interesting to see who starts in the No. 10 role against Roma and Aston Villa next week. Mainoo is also expected to return to the line-up, with one of the deeper midfielders likely to lose their place in the team.