Louis van Gaal held crisis talks with senior Manchester United players following last Saturday's disastrous 2-1 defeat against Norwich City at Old Trafford.

United captain Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Chris Smalling and Juan Mata were among the most vocal players involved in the full and frank discussion with the Dutchman.

The latest exchange of views focused on his hardline training methods, the nature of his strict regime and the tactics used by the team on matchdays.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney was vocal in discussions with manager Louis van Gaal

Manager Van Gaal is under pressure following a poor run of form, with his side winless in over a month

Rooney and his team-mates took part in a full and frank discussion with the Dutchman after the latest defeat

United's players believe the club's crippling injury list is being caused by over-training and have asked the Dutchman to ease off in some of the sessions.

Van Gaal is also facing a Spanish revolt by Mata and Ander Herrera, who fear their confused playing role at Old Trafford threatens their selection in Spain's squad for the European Championship.

However, this week's clear-the-air talks resulted in players and management reaching an agreement to work together in an attempt to get United's season back on track.

Van Gaal is understood to have encouraged the dialogue between players and management after dressing-room morale sank to an all-time low under his leadership.

Van Gaal has also spoken with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward this week in an attempt to resolve some of the issues between the management and the players.

Although sacked Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is angling for Van Gaal's job, United are reluctant to dance to the Portuguese coach's tune.

Three of United's senior players Rooney, Michael Carrick and Juan Mata react during the Norwich defeat

Mata is one of three senior Spanish players at United who have never been overly convinced about Van Gaal

Van Gaal has spoke with United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward to help resolve internal issues

United believe they are a club of such standing and pedigree that they do not want to be dictated to by a manager who has lost nine times in the Premier League this season.

Woodward's reputation is hanging on the success of Van Gaal, even though he was the club's third choice to replace David Moyes behind Pep Guardiola and Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone in 2014.

Van Gaal, who has 18 months left on his contract, has now gone six games without a win. He is under huge pressure after United dropped out of the top four following an abysmal performance against Norwich.

United have not won in the Premier League since the 2-1 victory at Watford on November 21.

Despite Van Gaal's struggles, United are reluctant to dance to former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho's tune

Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea last week, and has been angling for the Manchester United job since then

Some players have blamed the club's injury crisis on Van Gaal's methods, saying they are over-training

Van Gaal's playing style has also been criticised by supporters this season, with fans frequently chanting 'Attack attack attack' during some of the most sterile football served up in living memory at the club.

Van Gaal met the club's expectations last season when he took them back into the Champions League following their seventh-place finish in the aborted Moyes era.

The Dutchman has already fallen short of the target to reach the Champions League knockout phase after the 3-2 defeat at Wolfsburg on December 8 bumped them into the Europa League.

But Van Gaal's separate target — to finish in the top three of the Premier League and qualify automatically for the Champions League — is still possible.

United lie fifth, on goal difference, behind Tottenham. They travel to Stoke City on Boxing Day before hosting Guus Hiddink's Chelsea at Old Trafford two days later.

Van Gaal may struggle to satisfy Mata and Herrera, whose dissatisfaction with the way they are being played may cause them to quit United in the summer if the Dutchman remains at the helm.

United have not won a game since November 21, and have been knocked out of the Champions League

Rooney trudges away after his side conceded a second goal against Norwich in their third consecutive defeat

Both Spanish midfielders are popular with United fans but they feel hamstrung by Van Gaal's tactics. At Carrington's training ground, they are known as players of decent character.

Mata, signed by Moyes from Chelsea almost two years ago, has featured regularly in Van Gaal's team this season, starting 16 times in the Barclays Premier League and scoring four goals.

Herrera, on the other hand, faces a persistent struggle to convince Van Gaal he is worthy, starting only six league fixtures and only 25 since Van Gaal bought him for £29m in his first summer at Old Trafford last year.

Herrera's plight has not been helped by injury problems but he was fit to face Norwich last weekend and began only as a substitute, not being called upon until the second half, by which point United were 2-0 down.

United's tactics under Van Gaal have been criticised both by fans and some of his players

Spanish stars Mata and Ander Herrera fear their Euro 2016 places could be in jeopardy because of the slump

Van Gaal has never really explained why the 26-year-old has been so sparingly used but Herrera himself is aware that he should be in the prime of his career.

He also worries that, having played for Spain at Under 20, 21 and 23 level, his chances of breaking into Vicente del Bosque's full squad are slim while he is not playing regular football.