Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he has not lived up to expectations after his side were booed by fans after losing to Southampton.
United supporters were mutinous after Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Old Trafford.
“They have – or they had – great expectations of me, and I cannot fulfil them, so I am very frustrated because of that,” said Dutchman Van Gaal.
United are fifth in the Premier League table, five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham and 10 off leaders Leicester.
The Red Devils have taken 37 points from their first 23 games, their lowest total in the Premier League era and three points fewer than amassed under David Moyes during the 2013-14 season.
After the defeat against Southampton, Van Gaal had said fans were “right to boo” but added: “For better or for worse we have to stick together.
“We are working very hard, but we have had a lot of injuries. That you cannot change.”
Van Gaal was also criticised on the club’s official television channel, MUTV.
Former Reds winger Bojan Djordjic suggested that “the only corner we are turning is into some dark alley where we get robbed again”.
Next up for United is a trip to Championship side Derby in the FA Cup fourth round on Friday (kick-off 19:55 GMT).
Darmian ‘fine’ after rib scare
United lost defender Matteo Darmian midway through the second half following a clash with Shane Long.
Van Gaal revealed the Italian, who took an elbow to the ribs, was “spitting blood” after leaving the pitch and had gone to hospital.
However, the 26-year-old later tweeted he was “fine”.
With Luke Shaw still out after suffering a double fracture of his right leg last September and Ashley Young undergoing groin surgery, Darmian is Van Gaal’s only fit senior full-back.
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