Van Gaal: I still have Woodward’s backing

Louis van Gaal conceded his Manchester United flops are lacking in confidence after slamming their performance in a shock 2-1 defeat against Norwich.

As Chelsea fans turned on Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa for their perceived role in the sacking of Mourinho, and with Guus Hiddink now confirmed as interim manager until the end of the season, attention turned to Old Trafford, where Norwich’s 2-1 win condemned United to their third successive defeat.

United, who have not won in six games in all competitions, have slipped to fifth in the Barclays Premier League and Jose Mourinho, who left Chelsea last week, has been linked with Van Gaal’s job.

Matches at Stoke City on Boxing Day and at home against Chelsea two days later could be pivotal to Van Gaal’s future.

United refused to comment on speculation that Van Gaal has two games to save his job, but it is understood the Dutchman was at the club’s training base in Carrington on Monday continuing his work as normal.

Ferguson and director Sir Bobby Charlton were known to have doubts about Mourinho, but they will have only a minor say in who succeeds Van Gaal should he be axed.

“We had done that this week and that is the only way, but now we have to evaluate what we have done here and how we have prepared for this match”.

“The problem is how we come out of this bad period”.

Saturday’s defeat at home to Norwich saw United drop out the Premier League’s top four, going below Tottenham on goal difference.

“We shall evaluate what we have done as a staff, and as a team, to make it better against Stoke City”. We weren’t playing well at the time. They controlled the game early on and looked brighter in attack than on previous occasions but they failed to test opposing goalkeeper Declan Rudd. Alex Neil’s men then showed commendable discipline to close out victory and lift themselves out of the relegation zone.

The Scot said: “That is great for the club”.

“But for me it is just about trying to get as many points as I can for my team”.

Didn’t even know I liked that post, did not mean to. They will certainly take some confidence from that. “We have got to pull through and we will”. ‘Of course I am anxious about that, ‘ he said.

“You need to make sure after 30 minutes you are in the game and then the game will become bigger and it gives you the opportunity to pick up wee pockets and try to hurt them on the counter”.

“That is hard because otherwise we would have done it today”.