Sunday 20 December 2015 12:52, UK
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted his position was under scrutiny after his side's 2-1 defeat at home to Norwich City on Saturday.
United have lost their last three matches in all competitions and have gone six games without victory, while they now trail Premier League leaders Leicester City by nine points.
Van Gaal has already taken flak over the perceived poor quality of United's play and with Jose Mourinho now a free agent following his sacking by Chelsea on Thursday, the Dutchman admitted that he was in the spotlight.
Asked if he feared for his position, Van Gaal said: "Yes of course I am worried about that because I know that belief in a manager is very important, and when you lose the games you play then the belief in a manager shall
decrease.
"That is happening now. I cannot close my eyes to that.
"That's the football world. I know that, my board knows that, my players know that. We're not used to that because normally we win, so it's a difficult period."
Van Gaal warned the club's board against wielding the axe but admitted he could not be sure of long-term backing.
"I don't think a change of management shall bring direct success - but that is what I believe," he said. "Maybe that is not so interesting."
Asked if he thought that United would stand by him, he later told Sky Sports: "Yes, I think so. But in this world you never know, you never know."
Anthony Martial's second-half strike acted as mere consolation as Norwich inflicted United's first defeat at Old Trafford this season thanks to goals in either half from Cameron Jerome and Alexander Tettey.
Discontent threatened to break out among the United faithful as Norwich ended a 26-year wait for a win at Old Trafford.
But Van Gaal urged the club's supporters to continue believing in his philosophy and help his players, whom he believes are lacking confidence.
"We have shown in the Premier League already we have stood first in the league so now we have to come out of this bad period and then I hope we shall succeed," the Dutchman said.
"A lot of things didn't go right today. We know we have to win against Norwich City.
"We have won or at least drawn all of our games at home so this is has been special for us this season.
"We know [today] is not good enough for us, the players know that, I know that, the board knows that and the fans know that.
"However, after the second [Norwich] goal, the fans were still supporting us and they gave a good example that we have to stick together to come out of this period because that is the main objective.
"When things are going down you have to believe in the philosophy and that's why all my teams have won more matches than they lose.
"Of course, you have to evaluate yourself every day and the players have to evaluate themselves also.
"That is an aspect of your professionalism, so I shall do that and my players shall do that and I am convinced of that."
