Stoke City vs Manchester United: Ashley Young warns tough test for Red Devils in Boxing Day clash

Ashley Young has warned his Manchester United teammates that their upcoming league clash against Stoke City will not be easy and claimed that it is difficult to walk away from the Britannia Stadium with three points. Louis van Gaal's side face the Potters in the away fixture on Boxing Day, two days ahead of their home game against Chelsea.

"It's not going to be an easy game at Stoke at this time of year but it's never easy to go there and get three points," Young told MUTV. "We'll be looking to do that and bounce back. We've got that team spirit to show the strength that we can turn things around."

Van Gaal is under pressure as United dropped out of the top four following their 2-1 defeat to Norwich City at Old Trafford, which was their first home defeat in the league. The 20-time English champions managed just three wins from their last 13 matches played in all competitions, which includes an exit from the Capital One Cup and the Champions League.

The last three matches have ended in defeats, including games against AFC Bournemouth and Norwich. Young, who has been playing in the full-back position and on the wings revealed that everyone at United were disappointed with the recent run and has blamed the players' poor performance on the pitch for the lack of wins since 21 November.

"Not winning the last six games for a club like us is disappointing. We're not used to not winning games, everyone in the dressing room is a winner and we want to get back to winning ways. That's what we're trying to do," the England international explained.

"Obviously everyone is disappointed with the last few games but I've always said the team spirit we have is fantastic. There are always smiles on faces and all of us want to put things right and that's the way it has to be.

"There is no player who doesn't want to go out there and win. Everyone has that winning mentality and wants to turn things around, and that's what everyone will be looking to do in the next game."

"We're the players who are out there on the pitch and we haven't been performing as well as we have done in the past. Like I said, we have to get ourselves back to winning ways," he concluded.