Michael Carrick said Manchester United's players and hierarchy are having blunt internal discussions during a troubled season. United go to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday sitting 16th in the Premier League and 20th in the Champions League after eight games without a win.
Carrick on internal discussions
Carrick said: "It’s pretty clear. It’s not always rosy and nice conversations between anyone, whether that’s between me and the players, whether that’s between me, Jason or Omar or the owners. It’s the truth, it’s the hard truth at times and it’s what we need to move forward. Whatever we need to move forward, we’ll do."
Talks with players
Carrick said: "We always do what we think is going to get the best out of the team. Whether that’s certain players that you speak to at certain points, that’s normal."
The Independent reported that Carrick has also had meetings with his squad.
View on disagreement
Carrick said he welcomed players disagreeing with each other and with him. Carrick said: "That’s why if you ask for leaders in the dressing room and you want opinions on certain things, then there’s going to be times when you ask that, that’s fine. Absolutely no problem, doesn’t mean that we always agree with that, but absolutely no problem with that. And then we head off in the same direction."
The Independent's reported talks
The Independent reported that Carrick survived as manager after crisis talks in which chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox decided to give him the chance to reverse their slide.
The Independent reported that Carrick held clear-the-air talks with Bruno Fernandes after dropping his captain following his criticisms of United's tactics in the 4-1 defeat to Como.
