Michael Carrick explains 'hard truth' being shared at Man United

Carrick says Manchester United's players, coaches and hierarchy are having frank discussions about their poor form as he seeks to reverse their slide.

Michael Carrick has insisted that Manchester United's players and hierarchy are speaking honestly with each other about their troubled season, with blunt conversations happening between coaches, players and the club's leadership at Old Trafford.

Carrick survived as manager after crisis talks in which chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox decided to give him a chance to reverse United's slide. He held clear-the-air talks with captain Bruno Fernandes after dropping him following his criticisms of United's tactics in last week's 4-1 defeat to Como.

The manager has also held meetings with his underachieving squad, who sit 16th in the Premier League and 20th in the Champions League after eight games without a win. Carrick said these conversations are necessary even when uncomfortable: "It's the hard truth at times and it's what we need to move forward." He welcomed players disagreeing with each other and with him, saying such opinions from leaders in the dressing room are "absolutely no problem" as long as the team heads in the same direction. Manchester United face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.