Manchester United vice-captain Michael Carrick has insisted that the club's current woes are a joint responsibility as pressure continues to mount on manager Louis van Gaal.

The Red Devils went down 2-0 at Stoke City earlier today for their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions, extending their winless run to seven games.

While Van Gaal subsequently admitted that his position was now uncertain, midfielder Carrick stressed that the players and backroom staff need to "stick together".

"As a club, as a group of players, the staff and the manager; everyone is in this together," he told Sky Sports News. "We have to stick together and win football matches. We all have to take responsibility for that, we are all in it together.

"We are on a horrible run, it's a horrible feeling, it hurts a lot and it's hard to take. We are not playing well enough as a squad, we take responsibility for that, it has to be a lot better. When you are on a bad run, it's tough, it's hard to take.

"You can single anybody out when you are in these situations, but the only way to get through this is to work hard, stick together and keep believing it will turn for us, and it has to turn for us in the next game."

United next welcome struggling champions Chelsea to Old Trafford on Monday.