OLE INOUEST

Woodward hauls boss in after United horror run

MANCHESTER UNITED chief Ed Woodward held crisis talks with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his assistant Mike Phelan at the club’s training ground yesterday.

Woodward called the lunchtime meeting at Carrington to discuss United’s deepening problems after a seventh defeat in nine games in the derby against Manchester City left Solskjaer’s side in danger of missing out on the top four.

United are alarmed that their line-up to face City — and particularly Solskjaer’s decision to recall Matteo Darmian in a back-five — was leaked well before kick-off at Old Trafford, even though it was meant to be a secret.

Earlier on Wednesday, MailOnline revealed United were secretly preparing for the game at their old training ground The Cliff as Solskjaer tried to motivate his players. So many photographers turned up that the session was cut short to keep United’s plans under wraps.

A comprehensive 2-0 derby defeat demonstrated the gulf between the two

clubs and left United three points off fourth-placed Chelsea, who visit Old Trafford on Sunday. Paul Pogba is believed to have given a speech in the dressing room beforehand, similar to the pep talk he delivered to his France team-mates before the World Cup final last summer, but it had little effect as United were outplayed by their neighbours. The club’s worst run of results for 57 years has emphasised the need for a major overhaul of the squad this summer. Speculation has intensified in Spain this week that Pogba has set his heart on a move to Real Madrid and told team-mates that he wants to go. United insist