Van Gaal: Three-month Judgement 'Was Stupid'

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has said it was "stupid" to tell people to judge him on his first three months at Old Trafford.

When the Dutchman took charge of the club in July, he said his methods usually bore fruit after three months.

With that initial period up, United are sixth in the league after two losses.

Van Gaal, 63, said: "It was very stupid to say three months because then the media are only talking about three months."
United have won three competitive games since Van Gaal took over in the summer.

Victory against West Brom on Monday would see them win three consecutive Premier League games for the first time in 2014.

But the former Netherlands coach does not believe his team have performed at their best, even during victories over West Ham and Everton.

However they are without a win in their past five away league games - their worst run since 2001

It is 18 years since they went six away games without a win in the Premier League

"It is always the performance that counts, but the performance always goes up and down," he added.

"Against Everton we could not say it was very good. The first 60 minutes, maybe, but a game lasts 90 minutes.

"I don't think points are very important in the process. It's the game, it's the style, it's the formation, it's the philosophy that we have to judge and not the points.

"The points are coming when we are playing good, and not only good for 60 minutes, but 90 minutes."

United could have a number of players back from injury for the trip to The Hawthorns, with Ander Herrera, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Phil Jones and Michael Carrick all having recently returned to training.

Defenders Jonny Evans and Paddy McNair and midfielders Jesse Lingard and Antonio Valencia are still sidelined while captain Wayne Rooney is suspended.