Man Utd players attempting their best for Louis van Gaal, says Carrick

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick says it is "insolent" to assert the club's players are not attempting their best for director Louis van Gaal.

United's Boxing Day rout at Stoke was their fourth in succession and extended their winless raced to seven amusements.

Van Gaal, who says he could stop, was at United's preparation ground on Sunday.

"It is somewhat insolent when individuals say the fellows aren't striving for the director," said Carrick. "That damages us - it's not the sort of individuals we are."

The United bad habit skipper included: "We haven't won diversions and it is sufficiently reasonable if individuals censure things that have turned out badly on the pitch.

"It is a terrible run, and it is an awful feeling. It harms severely.

"The run we've been on is quite recently not sufficient. We can't escape it, we're not going to avoid it. That is the manner by which it is and we all should be better."