Van Gaal says Rooney, Carrick voiced concerns about 'flat' dressing room

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal revealed that two of the club's longest serving players approached him with concerns over the poor atmosphere in the dressing room.

On the heels of reports suggesting players had voiced their concerns over van Gaal's training tactics, the Dutch boss denied suggestions he had a poor relationship with his players. He said he was grateful that Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick approached with worries that the team's dressing was "flat."

"Rooney and Carrick, the captains, came to me and said the dressing room is flat and they wanted to say that to me because they wanted to help me," van Gaal told reporters ahead of United's game Saturday against Liverpool.

"And then I have played so much attention and then I communicate not with my captains, because they are trying to warn me, so I go to the dressing room and talk with my players.

"We have discussed a lot of aspects but not what some have written. The fans are shouting every week "Louis van Gaal's army" so the fans are very satisfied with me and the players are very satisfied with me," van Gaal continued. "Some players are coming to me to apologise for what is written in the papers this week."

Van Gaal added that the players' willingness to approach him was an example of the positive relationship he shares with this United team, compared to those he's managed in the past.

"I have a superb relationship with my players. Maybe you have to consider how many players are coming to the manager to say something," van Gaal said.

"In my career as a manager, I didn't have so many players who are coming to say something about the atmosphere in the dressing room, about the way we train or something like that. It is very positive that players are coming to you because then you know they trust you."