Youri Tielemans impresses English press with his assist at Old Trafford

In the bustle of Old Trafford, the red supporters recall the moment when Youri Tielemans delivered his first assist, opening the score of the second goal during Manchester United's 4‑0 victory over Sabah on Thursday, on the opening day of the Champions League group stage.

Tielemans' first decisive pass

Tielemans only played the first half before being replaced by Mason Mount, his team already leading 3‑0 at the break. This decision was aimed at preserving his energy ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday.

Having arrived at Manchester United this summer, the Belgian midfielder had featured in three Premier League matches without creating a decisive goal. The match against Sabah thus marks his first assist since his transfer. The Red Devil showed dominance in the English midfield.

Reactions from the English press

The Sun newspaper gave Tielemans a rating of 7 out of 10, describing him as the decisive passer for Bruno Fernandes on the second goal. The paper highlighted the Belgian midfielder's creativity in this decisive moment.

“He gave himself a bit of rest in the second period after showing good vision of the game to serve Bruno Fernandes on the 2‑0 goal. It was Tielemans' most creative performance, which is indeed the minimum one can expect from him against a team that is new to the Champions League.”

The Guardian judged that the Belgian could be satisfied with his impact after his 45 minutes, while highlighting the intelligence of his partnership with Fernandes on the second goal. The Guardian added that his 45 minutes could be the best of his career at Old Trafford.

“Fernandes shone once again, and seeing him combine with an equally intelligent Youri Tielemans on United's second goal is encouraging.”

The media also noted that Michael Carrick seems to want to establish a partnership between Tielemans and the young Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield before the derby against Manchester City. This strategy would aim to strengthen midfield cohesion before the clash with City’s Red Devils.

Manchester United will face Manchester City this Sunday at 5:30 pm at Old Trafford, the club hoping that Tielemans' form will persist in the local duel. The kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 pm, giving Tielemans the opportunity to extend his influence.

For their part, the Sky Blues arrive in full confidence, with three consecutive Premier League wins and a 2‑0 away victory against Porto in the Champions League. These performances increase the pressure on United's staff to maintain the momentum.