United fans who turned on him and his side during
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Southampton at Old Trafford.
Many in the crowd had already left the Theatre of Dreams
long before the final whistle after an uninspiring United
display which was compounded by Charlie Austin’s 87th-
minute winner for the visitors.
Home supporters were also seen waving the United
manager goodbye at the end of the match, while others
chose to deliver a thumbs-down gesture as Van Gaal walked
towards the Old Trafford tunnel.
In a post-match press conference Van Gaal said he could
understand the supporters’ frustrations after such a lifeless
display.
“Yes, it was very clear I think,” he admitted when asked if it
was one of the worst performances of his United reign.
“I can imagine [the fans’ feelings] but I have also seen a
poor match.
“You can analyse that as a manager and players, and you
have to do that because it is difficult to create chances when
you are so tactically busy with pressing each other and
pressure on the ball. Neither us nor they kept the ball so
much.”
But when pressed on what he can do to change the
sentiments of the fans who turned on his and the United
side in the latter stages of the game, he insisted that more
work on the training ground is the only way forward.
“I cannot change that feeling. I can only work hard with my
players to improve our game, and that's what I am doing,”
he added. “Of course I’m disappointed, but I have to think
already how can we change this.
“It is not an easy job at the moment, because although we
have won three games and drawn one in 2016 before this
one, but we could not show that confidence in this game.”
The defeat leaves United five points adrift of fourth-placed
Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a Champions League
spot.
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