Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick said he has had difficult conversations with the club's hierarchy and his players. He spoke before Saturday's match at Chelsea, The Guardian reported. United have gone eight games without a win. They start the weekend 16th of 20 in the league, one point above the relegation zone.
Carrick's job came under threat after last Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth. He has kept his position for now and has a chance to turn things around, according to The Guardian. He suggested he had spoken this week with director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada.
"It's not always rosy and nice conversations between anyone," Carrick said. He said this applied to talks with the players, with Wilcox and Berrada, and with the owners. He called it "the hard truth" and said it was what the club needed to move forward.
After the Bournemouth defeat, fans cheered Carrick as he walked a lap of the pitch. Once he entered the tunnel, they booed the players over a poor performance and a perceived lack of effort. Carrick said he had "mixed feelings" about it. He said he valued the fans' support but was with his players "100%". He added that the squad is "hurting" but "hungry" to turn things around.
Carrick said he did not want to be seen as separate from his squad. He said the players and supporters all have to be in it together. The club would be stronger once it gets through this run, he added.
Former United defender Gary Neville questioned some players' professionalism on his podcast this week. He said a few of them do not go to bed at the right time or eat the right things. Carrick laughed off the claims, saying: "Gaz says a lot of things."