Louis van Gaal says Manchester United can change their fortunes around but must make an “immediate improvement”.<\/p>\n
The under-pressure United boss walked out of a news conference after less than five minutes on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
United have gone six games without a win – including three successive losses – and Van Gaal said he is experiencing his worst period at Old Trafford.<\/p>\n
He added: “There’s no disguising the fact we’re in a very bad period. Things must begin to improve immediately.”<\/p>\n
Van Gaal was writing in the United match programme for the 28 December encounter with Chelsea, whose former manager Jose Mourinho has been linked with his job.<\/p>\n
“We can turn this situation around. The best way to come out of this period and improve is for us all to stick together,” he said.<\/p>\n
Captain Wayne Rooney insists the team are behind Van Gaal, despite their longest run without a win since 1998.<\/p>\n
“We’re fighting for the manager and trying to get results to turn this around,” Rooney, 30, told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
“You have a lot of people talking about things they believe are happening when in reality the people writing that stuff don’t know anything that’s happening.”<\/p>\n
Players hurt – Rooney<\/strong><\/p>\n Van Gaal’s news conference on Wednesday, before Saturday’s trip to Stoke City, lasted just four minutes and 58 seconds.<\/p>\n The 64-year-old Dutchman asked reporters if any of them wanted to apologise to him and said speculation about his future had affected his family.<\/p>\n England striker Rooney, who has two Premier League goals this season, said: “We all have families and sometimes things get written, which is not nice for your family to see.<\/p>\n “It’s tough but it’s part of football and part of being a footballer.<\/p>\n “It’s not nice when you’re getting criticism every week. It’s tough for the players to deal with. We hurt. We’re proud people and proud to play for Manchester United.”<\/p>\n Low on confidence?<\/strong><\/p>\n The Red Devils have not won any of their last four league games and are fifth in the table, nine points behind leaders Leicester City.<\/p>\n They were booed off the pitch by supporters in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Norwich and fans have called for Van Gaal to adopt a more attacking style of play.<\/p>\n “As a group of players we know we can do better. We regularly have meetings with the players and with the manager,” said England captain Rooney.<\/p>\n “I know my own performances can be better. I’m working hard to try and improve that.<\/p>\n “We haven’t won games the last few weeks and it’s normal confidence will be a bit low – we need to lift it.” Louis van Gaal says Manchester United can change their fortunes around but must make an “immediate improvement”. The under-pressure United boss walked out of a news conference after less than five minutes on Wednesday. United have gone six games without a win – including three successive losses – and Van Gaal said he is experiencing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":176878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[29,3,38],"yoast_head":"\n
\n–
\nBy: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"