Louis van Gaal said he feels “lousy” after Manchester United’s poor start to the season.
Van Gaal’s appointment was greeted with great fanfare at Old Trafford, but after 10 matches United are 10th in the Premier League.
“It’s not good enough,” the United manager said yesterday when asked to evaluate his team’s start to the season.
“I feel lousy.”
Van Gaal’s team have 13 points even though United have had a favourable run of fixtures since the start of the season.
His predecessor David Moyes, who lasted just 10 months in the job, had 17 points at this stage last season.
“I feel, myself, very lousy for the fans, firstly, but also for the board because they have a great belief in me and my players and my staff, and when you have 13 points out of 10 matches you are not doing well,” Van Gaal said.
He warned United fans it may take a long time before he finds a winning formula.
“We are in a process and that process shall take more than one year,” said the Dutchman, who was given a three-year contract this summer. “It shall take three years, I hope, because that is always dependable from a lot of aspects, but I think it shall be and we shall make it happen that we shall win a lot of matches in a row.”
Van Gaal’s mood has soured further after his injury list lengthened last weekend, as Marcus Rojo, the defender, dislocated a shoulder and is out six weeks.
United are home today to Crystal Palace. The visitors will be without captain Mile Jedinak, who was sent off in Monday night’s loss to Sunderland.
Wilfried Zaha also is unavailable to Neil Warnock because he is on loan from United.
Manchester United v Crystal Palace: 7pm, beIN Sports
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