Jose Mourinho should defend Victor Lindelof after the Manchester United defender's recent mistakes, according to the Swede's compatriot Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Lindelof was criticised by pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville after his performance in United's 3-0 defeat to Tottenham on Monday night.
Tension has arisen at Old Trafford after the Red Devils failed to sign a new centre-back in the summer, despite Mourinho openly stating he wanted to buy one and that has reportedly led to a fall-out between the manager and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
Lindelof replaced Phil Jones in the 58th minute against Spurs and had started alongside Eric Bailly at the heart of United's defence in the 3-2 defeat to Brighton in the previous game.
The 24-year-old's fellow countryman Eriksson told Sky Sports : "I have to say he did two great mistakes last match I thought. And he was lucky he got away with it, both of them.
"But you don't expect that from him. But, anyhow, we're talking about a very good football player.
"For Sweden he's been fantastic and Sweden got to the quarter-final [of the World Cup]. He was important in the qualification so he is a great player, no doubts about that.
"And, of course, when you are criticised as a player, as a coach, life is difficult. You have to come back. But, if you don't have the manager, the coach defending you, life is even more difficult, much more difficult.
"So, I think - me, and now I am talking about me - in all the teams I had, if it's a club or you, you had to defend your players."
United travel to Burnley in their next match on Sunday when they will be aiming to pick up their first away points of the season.
Despite all the reported unrest around Carrington, midfielder Ander Herrera has said the team can easily turn things around at Turf Moor .