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Midfield exposed in dismal start

Carrick is under mounting pressure after Manchester United collected just six points from their opening six Premier League fixtures. The Red Devils were fortunate to salvage a home draw against 10-man Tottenham on Saturday after being completely overpowered in a woeful first-half display.

These early-season struggles have highlighted glaring tactical issues in the middle of the pitch. Summer arrival Youri Tielemans, who joined from Aston Villa for £35 million, was repeatedly bypassed alongside midfield partner Kobbie Mainoo.

Despite also recruiting Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba from Chelsea and Brighton respectively, Carrick has persisted with the Tielemans-Mainoo axis. However, the pairing's lack of dynamism is now drawing fierce criticism from high-profile pundits.

Carragher demands tactical shift

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes United's lack of tactical discipline is actively harming Tielemans. Speaking on Sky Sports, the pundit explained why the Belgium international is suffering without the structural support he enjoyed at his former club.

Carragher said: "Why did Tielemans look good at Aston Villa and he's really struggled so far at Manchester United? When you look at an Unai Emery team, they are coached to within an inch of their lives every day and every time you watch Aston Villa game, that team is compact and together."

He highlighted that the £35m signing lacks natural pace and requires a tight unit around him to mask his athletic deficiencies. Carragher compared the situation to Alexis Mac Allister's initial struggles at Anfield, warning that Carrick must quickly fix his system.

"And when you have a player who isn't great athletically which he isn't, you need your team to be super compact. That is exactly the opposite," Carragher added. "This is a problem Liverpool had last season with Alexis Mac Allister. Mac Allister has looked better this season because the team is tighter and more compact and that is what Manchester United need to do or he is not going to last, he's not going to be in the team."

Neville fears for midfield pairing

These concerns are echoed by former United captain Gary Neville, who feels the current midfield structure is incompatible with Premier League demands. Speaking on his podcast, Neville suggested the current duo simply do not complement one another on the pitch.

"Tielemans and Mainoo, I think we've seen enough of it now," Neville explained. "I'm not calling time on it because that's probably too drastic but I've seen enough to think that's not a midfield that's dynamic enough to play at this football club in the Premier League. I think they are both good players, by the way, individually. But sometimes you just have players that don't quite knit together or don't quite suit each other."

Neville noted that United looked vastly improved when Baleba was introduced against Spurs, demanding immediate changes to avoid further domestic and European embarrassment.

"I think when Baleba came on with Mainoo, it looked like there was a lot more energy," he added. "There's going to have to be something done in there, and the rest of them are going to have to get a grip because they are going to a Diego Simeone Atletico Madrid and Elland Road.

"If you're not quite right there from a mental and physical perspective, you're going to get found out. They've got a couple of days to recover, pick themselves up from this, and get going because if they don't get going, it's going to be a worrying few weeks."

Daunting trip to Atletico Madrid

United must quickly regroup as they face a formidable Champions League clash away to Atletico Madrid tonight. This demanding European tie serves as the first hurdle in a gruelling run of fixtures that will heavily test the squad's physical and mental resilience.

Carrick will be forced to shuffle his pack in the Spanish capital regardless of his tactical preferences. Mainoo has not travelled with the squad, meaning Baleba or Santos will likely step in as United search for a crucial victory to kick-start their stalling campaign.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are likely to face sanctions from the FA after "unaccepable" scenes at Old Trafford.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that the footballing authorities won't want those images beamed around the world.

Tensions rose rapidly between the two sets of players on Saturday, 10 October, as Luke Shaw took exception to Rodrigo Bentancur's wild challenge.

The veteran left-back charged over to the Uruguayan, pushing him to the ground rather violently, before Bentancur stood back up to headbutt his opponent.

Rightly so, Spurs' midfielder was shown a straight red card while Shaw only saw yellow, with several others getting involved in the mass confrontation.

Even Michael Carrick could be seen getting involved in the 78th minute, and it is these actions that could land United and Tottenham in hot water.

'The FA will charge both Man United and Tottenham'

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett revealed that he expects the FA to take action after the scenes unfolded at Old Trafford.

"There is no doubt that the FA will charge both teams with failure to control their players. That's the usual approach," he said.

"I don't think there's any level of excuse. The competition expects the right image to be reflected around the world. In a sense, this is thuggery and unacceptable.

"As a fan, we might enjoy it. But the reality is that in a game of football, self-control is part of what you expect from a professional player.

"This is why I sometimes perhaps get annoyed when spectators say there's no passion in the game. think that this reflects the passion."

'Bordered on violent' - Ex-refs chief: Man United player should have got red card vs Tottenham Youri Tielemans should be axed by Man United after his Tottenham display sets alarm bells ringing Michael Carrick fortunate to keep 11 players on the pitch

Roberto De Zerbi will absolutely be disappointed by Bentancur's actions, given that he's one of the most experienced players in the squad.

However, many at Spurs will argue that Luke Shaw also should have been given his marching orders for his role in the ordeal at Old Trafford.

That's how Hackett feels, anyway, who saw the left-back's emotional lash-out as "really aggressive" and "bordering on violent".

Given Shaw's injury history, he had every right to be upset with his opponent's out-of-control challenge, but he was fortunate to avoid a harsher punishment as well.

Tottenham Hotspur resume their Premier League campaign at Old Trafford on Saturday.

With the first international break of the season now in the books, the pressure is back on Tottenham to kickstart their campaign.

No wins from the opening five league games of the season leaves Roberto De Zerbi's side rooted to the foot of the Premier League.

Manchester United await the Lilywhites this weekend, with Michael Carrick's side winless in their last three in all competitions.

United have only beaten Tottenham once in their last nine meetings in all competitions, and so the recent history books rule in Spurs' favour.

Ahead of Saturday's 5:30pm kick-off, Tottenham News predicts how De Zerbi will line his Lilywhites side up at the Theatre of Dreams.

Jan Paul van Hecke not risked vs Man Utd

Starting between the sticks is most likely to be Antonin Kinsky, with the 23-year-old earning his first Czechia cap against Spain last weekend.

At right-back, Pedro Porro withdrew from Spain's team for the international break with a hamstring problem.

This should open the door for Archie Gray to come in on the right side of defence, as it was he who replaced Porro at Villa Park last time out.

Over at left-back Andy Robertson could continue his fine start to life in N17, despite the 32-year-old returning after a frustrating Scotland camp.

In central defence, Micky van de Ven appears ready to go after suffering a hand injury for the Netherlands, and may keep his spot from Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, Jan Paul van Hecke injured his foot for the Netherlands and is a doubt for Saturday, and De Zerbi may not wish to risk his star centre-back.

As a result, Marcos Senesi could make his first league start since the opening day defeat to Brentford at Old Trafford.

So, with a couple of changes at the back, will De Zerbi continue to tinker further up the pitch?

Why Tottenham can breathe sigh of relief as Micky van de Ven and Van Hecke injury latest drops De Zerbi may rejig attacking midfield department vs Man Utd

Moving into central midfield, De Zerbi appears to have a fairly straightforward decision here.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Sandro Tonali both played well against Aston Villa, and could once again be the engine room partnership at Old Trafford.

Omar Marmoush, however, didn't play well last time out putting zero shots on target (per FotMob), and could now be axed in favour of Mohammed Kudus making his first start of the season.

Per FotMob, Kudus took two shots, completed five dribbles, played three line-breaking passes and won nine ground duels on top of his assist against Villa.

In turn, Savio could be moved over to the left to enable Kudus to operate from his favoured right wing.

Mateus Fernandes may also be dropped as his sub-par Spurs start continues, with James Maddison possibly coming in the 10 spot for his first start of 2026-27.

Leading the line could be Dominic Solanke, as despite only scoring once in eight games this season, the Englishman is De Zerbi's best option.

Mateus Fernandes has not enjoyed the best of starts to life with Tottenham Hotspur.

The Portuguese midfielder was always going to have a target on his back after the money it cost to sign him.

Spurs paid West Ham £85million for Fernandes, despite their relegation to the Championship.

Roberto De Zerbi has been reluctant to use him every week, still.

That's despite Tottenham struggling yet again in the Premier League, somehow sitting bottom ahead of the return.

With trips to Manchester United and Chelsea sandwiched by Coventry at home, points are needed soon.

Could Mateus Fernandes play bigger role?

Despite his struggles and relative experience, it's hard to remember that the midfielder is still only 21.

With Spurs his third club in England and his total transfer cost passing £100m easily, pressure is high to deliver.

Right now, that's not happening.

Despite that, Transfermarkt state that his value has already risen by £16.9m while at Tottenham.

Their fair value of Fernandes in the market is £59.2m, but he would obviously go for much more than that, now.

But, what do the stats say and where does he need to improve?

Mateus Fernandes is nowhere near his full potential

With five Premier League appearances and three starts, he's only averaging 51 minutes per game right now.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Conor Gallagher are being preferred alongside Sandro Tonali, despite that clearly not working for De Zerbi.

Fernandes is that battler in the middle of the park who disrupts play, but can also create going forward.

Mateus Fernandes set for Tottenham lift-off as Portuguese media blown away by 'audacious' moment

With two big chances created already, that will improve should he increase his average of 43.2 touches per game.

Spurs are having a lot of the ball, so his defensive stats are lower, only winning 43 per cent of his total duels.

Fernandes needs to be confident on the ball when he has it, with his 50 per cent dribble success rate nowhere near good enough for a possession dominant team.

Keeping that tenacity but improve his quality on the ball will catch De Zerbi's eye, with a younger profile needed around some of the older rubbish.

With his fair market value rising, though, it will only continue going that way when his performances naturally improve, too.

Tottenham Hotspur could potentially stand to net as much as £50million from a compensation claim against Manchester City.

That is according to former Everton chief executive and ex-Premier League board member Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Lilywhites have a "strong case" to argue.

Spurs missed out on Champions League football by one place in four of the nine seasons when City breached financial rules, and in all four of those campaigns, the Citizens finished above them.

Wyness is adamant that the North London outfit have a genuinely solid case to receive compensation, given the significant loss of revenue they suffered.

Several other clubs are also contemplating claiming against City, after they were found guilty of their 114 financial breaches by the Premier League.

Wyness is adamant that the saga is far from done, with continual legal battles likely to unfold in the coming months.

Keith Wyness calls for Tottenham to receive split of fine

Everton's former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes that the Premier League could solve the issue of clubs making compensation claims by dividing up any fine levied against City.

Tottenham would stand to earn a significant portion in that scenario, given that they were continually affected by the breaches.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why Roberto De Zerbi's side have a strong case.

"Spurs had four near misses in terms of that, and of course have a strong case. Although these cases are never that easy, as we're finding out," he said.

"My belief is it's closer to somewhere around £50m that Spurs could receive. I think it would probably come in terms of a share of a fine; I think that will be the solution that will be put forward to try and stop all the litigation.

"They've got to stop clubs fighting each other and at each other's throats legally. So I think that's where it will go. And by the time everything is discounted and agreed, I'd expect it to be around £50m.

"Now that's not to be sniffed at, but of course, if you'd had four seasons of European football, that's a big difference as well. So nobody's ever going to be happy."

Tottenham to agree settlement as 'concerning trend' emerges Tottenham reach settlement amid 'concerning trend'

Wyness previously told Football Insider last week that Tottenham are likely to reach a settlement agreement with Haringey Council amid their ongoing dispute.

The areas around Spurs' stadium are some of the most depirved across the entire UK, and the local government are pushing for the club to hand over a percentage of their revenue to fund improvements.

Wyness believes that Spurs will strike an agreement on their own terms, rather than the lofty demands that the council are holding out for.

He suggested it could become a "concerning trend" if club's don't get access to their full revenue, but still stressed that many sides already do excellent work in the community.

Tottenham Hotspur's Mathys Tel is now in the history books for France's U21s.

The winger hasn't had the best time since joining the Lilywhites permanently in 2025, and needs to start stepping up.

He has scored five goals in 46 games since becoming a Spurs player on a permanent basis, still leaving supporters frustrated.

Roberto De Zerbi has given the 21-year-old several chances already this season, but the forward didn't even make the squad to face Aston Villa last time out.

The former Bayern Munich prospect still has bags of potential, and has been showing it while away on international duty.

Tel's latest performance for his country only gives him more reason to challenge himself to get back into the starting eleven for Tottenham.

What did Mathys Tel do for France U21s after 'untenable' display?

Mathys Tel helped France's U21s to a whopping 7-1 win over Switzerland in the EURO Qualification on Tuesday to remain top of their group.

The Spurs forward scored a hat-trick, adding to his growing tally again after scoring throughout the international break.

Tel has played 313 minutes for France's U21s over the break and has netted five times in four games. That's an average of a goal every 63 minutes.

Compare that to his overall record for Spurs in a total of 66 appearances; he averages a goal every 8.25 appearances.

L'Equipe called Tel's performance "untenable" as he has made history by becoming the joint-top goalscorer in the history of France's U21s.

He has tied the record with 17 goals in 22 games for Les Bleuets.

Tel clearly has the ability, but he needs to start showing it in N17.

How Mathys Tel produced 'rescue' mission away from Tottenham with milestone moment Can Tel break back into Roberto De Zerbi's starting XI?

Tel has an average of a 6.34 FotMob rating after making four appearances in the Premier League for Tottenham so far this season.

The left-winger creates just 1.04 chances per 90 minutes, with a poor crossing competition rate of 16.7 per cent.

His best attribute is clearly his dribbling, as he completes an average of 3.47 take-ons per match at a 52.6 per cent success rate.

Tel's technically scored for Spurs this season, as he got on the scoresheet in the Sydney Super Cup against Sydney FC, but needs to start doing it in England, not anywhere else.

Omar Marmoush started on the left wing against Aston Villa while Dominic Solanke featured up top.

Tel now needs to show what he can do to De Zerbi in person in order to get back into the first team.

So long as he brings his form for France's U21s with him back to N17, he should have a good chance of reclaiming his spot.

NBA Base: The Spurs internally believe Dylan Harper is already their second-best player, per @WindhorstESPN "The Spurs internally believe Dylan Harper is their second best player. That's not a slight on De'Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle. Harper is a stud."

Controversy follows Asian Games glory

Success on the international stage is usually a cause for universal celebration, but for Tottenham Hotspur youngster Yang, a recent gold medal victory has been overshadowed by off-field friction. The 20-year-old, who joined Belgian Pro League side Westerlo on a season-long loan during the summer transfer window, played a pivotal role in South Korea's triumph over hosts Japan in Saturday's final - setting up Swansea City's Eom Jisung for the game-winning goal.

In South Korea, able-bodied men are required to complete between 18 and 21 months of military service before the age of 28. Elite athletes who win gold at the Asian Games or any medal at the Olympics are granted an exemption, allowing them to pursue their professional careers uninterrupted after completing just a few weeks of basic training. This pathway was famously utilised by former Spurs captain Son Heung-min in 2018.

Yang clarifies his motivational comments

The firestorm began when Yang was asked about the significance of the victory and the physical rewards involved. The winger was quoted as saying: 'We were being compensated, and the compensation was military exemption, so it feels like we played with that one thing in mind. Honestly, whether it was a trophy or a medal wasn't important.' These words were interpreted by many as a dismissal of the honour of representing the Taeguk Warriors. As the criticism intensified, the Tottenham loanee realised the gravity of his statement and took to social media to issue a comprehensive and heartfelt apology to his compatriots.

In his lengthy statement, Yang expressed regret for how his words were perceived by the public. The player wrote: 'Hello, this is Yang Min-hyeok. I am sincerely sorry for causing disappointment and discomfort to so many people with my remarks regarding the Asian Games. Participating in the Asian Games as a representative of South Korea held great significance for me, and as an athlete, I naturally gave my all with the goal of winning the championship and the gold medal. However, I failed to properly convey that the military service exemption was merely one of several motivators - alongside the desire to achieve great results - that drove me forward.'

Addressing the military service community

Beyond the sporting implications, Yang's comments were seen by some as insensitive toward the thousands of young South Korean men currently serving their mandatory terms in the armed forces. The winger was quick to address this specific point in his apology, acknowledging the hard work required to earn such a prestigious achievement and the respect he holds for those in active service.

Yang continued his explanation by stating: 'Regardless of my original intent, it is clearly my fault that my words caused discomfort and made it appear as though I took the significance of the gold medal lightly as a national team athlete. I recognise that the gold medal was not something simply guaranteed; it was an achievement made possible only through the hard work and support of many people. Furthermore, I never intended to belittle or mock the efforts of those currently fulfilling their military service obligations or those who will do so in the future. I sincerely apologise to everyone who was hurt or disappointed by my thoughtless remarks. Moving forward, I will strive to make amends not only through my words but by demonstrating a better attitude and a greater sense of responsibility on the field. My sincere apologies.'

South Korea extend remarkable Asian Games gold medal streak

South Korea have established a dominant dynasty in the Asian Games men's football tournament, winning gold in each of the last four editions. Their historic streak began in 2014 with a dramatic 1-0 extra-time victory over North Korea, sealed by central defender Rim Chang-woo's winner in the 121st minute.

International injury concern for Spurs

Van de Ven emerged as a fitness concern after suffering an injury during Netherlands' 2-1 victory over Serbia in the Nations League on Sunday. The 25-year-old centre-back, who has become a pivotal figure in the Spurs backline since his move to North London three years ago, picked up a hand issue during the contest when Serbia striker Luka Jovic landed on the Dutch international.

Spurs supporters were left sweating over the availability of their captain, especially with a high-stakes encounter against Manchester United looming on the horizon. However, Netherlands manager Xavi was quick to offer a reassuring update following the final whistle. Speaking to reporters about the condition of his defender, the former Barcelona legend claimed it was 'not a big problem.'

Assessing the damage before Old Trafford

Despite the positive noises coming from the Dutch camp, Tottenham's medical staff will conduct their own assessment of the centre-back over the coming days. The club are keen to ensure Van de Ven is fully fit before their return to Premier League action at Old Trafford this Saturday. The timing is particularly sensitive for the North London side, as fellow Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke is also dealing with fitness issues. Van Hecke sustained a foot injury on September 27 and was subsequently forced to withdraw from the international squad.

Van de Ven has made five appearances across all competitions for Tottenham this season, but his side have endured a nightmare start to their domestic campaign. Spurs currently languish at the bottom of the Premier League table with just two points from their opening five matches, having failed to secure a single victory after registering two draws and three defeats.

High praise from a club legend

The defender's rise to prominence at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has caught the eye of club legend Ledley King, who recently spoke about Van de Ven's evolution as a leader. King highlighted the player's unique skill set and his new responsibilities within the squad. 'I think he's a fantastic player. His new role now is to make the players around him better,' King remarked when discussing the captaincy. The former England international believes Van de Ven is the ideal candidate to marshall the Spurs defense in the long term.

King further elaborated on the qualities that make the Dutchman so effective in the Premier League. 'I think Micky takes care of himself. His ability to recover and put fires out is something we've seen over the last few years. That's an important element for the team. So, I think the next role is to manage the group and get the best out of the group as a team. He's grown into the role. Having seen Micky on the pitch, he leads by example, for sure and I think he was the right choice to be captain,' the legendary defender added.

Netherlands top Nations League group ahead of crucial November fixtures

Netherlands currently top Group A2 in the Nations League with eight points, level with Greece and three points clear of third-placed Germany. Xavi's side wrapped up the current international break with a 2-1 victory over Serbia on Sunday, and will conclude their group-stage campaign in November with crucial fixtures against both Greece and Germany.

Tottenham Hotspur have learned more about the injury status of both Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke.

The central defensive duo jetted off for the extended international duty with the Netherlands.

They both had the chance to work with Xavi in his first outings as Oranje head coach.

The Spaniard had previously been linked with a North London switch, so it was a look into what could have been.

Things haven't exactly worked out as the Spurs men would have wanted.

Van de Ven and Van Hecke have both had injury problems, but what is the latest?

Will Micky van de Ven and Jan Paul van Hecke be ready to face Manchester United?

There have been so many fitness problems at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium over the years.

Recent months have been no different.

That frustration has now continued onto the international stage with the two Dutchman facing individual problems.

Van Hecke was stood on away to Serbia last Sunday, before Van de Ven was forced off against the same opponent exactly a week later.

Worry was rife in N17 as a result, but it seems everything is ok.

Dutch outlet Voetbal International reported on Monday that both could return in Spurs' next fixture against Manchester United.

Tottenham can "expect" Van Hecke on the pitch "soon", while Xavi has spoke out to confirm the state of Van de Ven.

He said: "He's ok, he felt dizzy because he suffered (an injury) in the finger, it's not a big injury."

That will be music to the ears of Roberto De Zerbi as he goes in search of his first Premier League win of the season.

Why Tottenham will already fear Jan Paul van Hecke vultures after Netherlands vs Serbia Why Tottenham truly need van de Ven vs Man United

Things may not be going well for the Lilywhites right now, but just over a year ago, they faced the Red Devils in Bilbao.

That was the last time the North London club secured victory over United, and Van de Ven was key.

The centre-back started and arguably made the difference between victory and defeat.

His goal-line clearance is iconic and capped off an excellent performance.

The then-24-year-old put up eight defensive actions including six clearances and two blocks.

Not a single Man United player dribbled past him, while he also failed to be dispossessed.

Van de Ven also maintained a 100 per cent pass accuracy as he showed his quality with the ball at his feet.

That sort of quality and performance level is needed once again, so learning that he should be fit to play at Old Trafford is massive.