• Premier League

United's confrontational crisis meeting revealed

Robin van Persie has revealed Louis van Gaal held a one-hour inquest into Manchester United's shock defeat at Leicester and that tempers were still flaring the following day.

United lost 5-3 despite leading 3-1 at the King Power Stadium, the first time in the club's history that they have a surrendered a two-goal advantage and lost.

Reports emerged that manager Van Gaal could be heard furiously laying into his players in the dressing room after the defeat and Van Persie hinted there was still confrontation in their meeting the next day.

"It shouldn't be possible [losing in that manner], but it still happened," Van Persie told Fox Sports News Australia. "We have to deal with it. We had a proper look at it the next day.

"Sometimes it was a bit confronting. It was a long, one hour or something meeting, but we went from there, started again this week and a couple of really good sessions in and everyone feels ready to face West Ham."

Van Gaal, whose side face West Ham at Old Trafford on Saturday, admitted he is encountering the biggest challenge of his managerial career in trying to revive United after their faltering start to the season.

The Dutchman said his side had "defended well" this season, with the exception of the Leicester game but United also shipped four goals in their League Cup exit at MK Dons.

Van Persie, who said he wants to play up front with Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao, said his team-mates are committed to learning from their errors.

"When you look at the defensive mistakes, it starts somewhere else. That's what we looked at as well," Van Persie said.

"It's not just the one mistake that happens - there's a mistake before the mistake and before the mistake, maybe positional-wise. That's where we looked and everyone knows where we have to improve.

"I don't think we have a confidence issue but you have to be realistic and know where you need to improve. Even me, for example, even though I'm 31 I can still improve my game."

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