'Carrick's structure is different to what I'm used to' - Tielemans

[Getty Images] It was third time lucky this summer in the history of Youri Tielemans and Manchester United. The club seriously looked at the Belgium midfielder in 2019, after he had impressed in an initial loan spell at Leicester City , and again in 2022, as they spent too long holding out for Frenkie de Jong to decide if he was prepared to leave Barcelona. But it was this July, while the 29-year-old was on World Cup duty, when the Old Trafford outfit made their move, triggering a £35m release clause to snap Tielemans up on a five-year deal from Aston Villa . He cut a relaxed figure as he sat down for his first extended media interview since his switch, taking time to personally shake hands with all of the journalists present. He positively beamed at points, noticeably when he asked whether - given he scored Leicester City's winner in the 2021 FA Cup final and then the opener for Aston Villa in their Europa League triumph over Freiburg in May - if he can bring goals to United. "That's the aim," he replied. It could be argued Tielemans' arrival addresses an issue United had since Michael Carrick quit in 2018; a scheming midfielder, with an eye for a pass, who can break a defensive line. Tielemans had a brief chat with Carrick before he completed his move, but the past 10 days have offered a great insight into his boss' expectations. "He wants me to be free on the pitch, to try to organise the team the best I can," he said. "He has his structure. He wants to have the ball and press in certain ways. "It might be different to what I'm used to, but it is logical things in my opinion. It is just smelling football, which is what I was doing from a young age at Anderlecht. "So, for me, nothing changes. It just needs to gel together." Read the full article here