YOURI TIELEMANS stated after his £35million transfer to Old Trafford three months ago: “There are still clubs above Aston Villa, and Manchester United is one of them.”

The Belgian captain’s current team trails his former club Villa by five points in the Premier League and is also 11 places behind them in the Champions League group stage.

Tielemans is set to compete against his previous club this afternoon, but the 29-year-old midfielder’s summer transfer symbolizes United’s struggles this season.

It was a strategic acquisition after a deal for Ederson fell through, as United swiftly triggered his release clause to bring him from the Midlands.

The reactive acquisition of a player with substantial experience has taken its toll.

Tielemans, who remarked at the World Cup that his body “switched off,” was the only United player to start the first 12 matches this season.

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And his sluggish performances have exacerbated the team’s disappointing results.
United has been criticized for a lack of urgency this season, but Tielemans is more of a composed player than a dynamic force in the midfield.

Even his former manager Unai Emery acknowledged that patience was needed with Tielemans when he joined the Villans from Leicester in 2023 — and the Spaniard has faith in his former star’s ability to succeed due to his “mentality”.

Emery noted: “We’ll be up against Youri Tielemans — and he knows us well, of course.

“He’s an exceptional player, but when he was here, he needed time to adjust to our style.

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“After that adjustment period, he thrived at Villa. Now, at Manchester United, he may require some time to settle in.

“But if he plays against us, he’ll bring his qualities and mentality. He has a very strong mindset.”

Tielemans has already played alongside several United midfield partners.

He teamed up with Andrey Santos on the opening weekend of the Premier League, but United struggled in a 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Hull.

Next, he was paired with Kobbie Mainoo, but that combination was unsuccessful.

Tielemans also stepped in for Bruno Fernandes as the No 10 during the United captain’s poor form before Tielemans himself was benched for matches against Chelsea and Roma.

He may reconnect with Mainoo today against Villa, the club he helped twice secure a Champions League spot and where he scored in their Europa League final victory over Freiburg in May.

This would usually guarantee Tielemans applause from the away supporters.

However, despite his apology for labeling United a bigger club in those pre-season remarks, he might face a mixed reception.

Tielemans performed better off the bench in Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League comeback win over Roma, which ended United’s nine-match winless streak.

Manager Carrick has indicated that recent weeks have impacted players of any age significantly.

Tielemans will turn 30 next May and has ample experience, having debuted for Anderlecht at age 16 and competed in three World Cups. This marks his ninth season in England.

Yet none of this prepares players for the intense focus and scrutiny that accompany turbulent times at United — a reality Tielemans and his teammates are experiencing this season.

When asked how his squad has coped, Carrick remarked: “As elite athletes, we constantly aim for near perfection.

“While perfection is unattainable, we always strive to operate at our peak.

“A significant part of that involves mindset, mentality, and confidence.

“It’s crucial to manage these factors, and from my perspective, understanding where the players are with these emotions is imperative.

“Momentum in sport is incredibly significant. The flow of momentum in games, from day to day, and week to week, is critical.

“Though it can be challenging to quantify, feelings and emotions play a pivotal role.

“Memory can trigger a realization: ‘Oh yes, this is what success feels like; this is how it should be.’

“That explains why players or teams have successful spells and then struggle at others. Everything must align.

“Feeling, confidence, and emotion — there are times when it’s necessary to not even think you’re at your best, but instead trust your instincts and play freely.

“I believe we did that a lot against Roma the other night.”