Van Gaal asks fans for patience after painful Cup exit

“It is very difficult when you start as a manager in the Premier League with a home loss and then a draw and then after that you lose in a cup match,” Van Gaal said.

“For the fans, it is very difficult to still believe in the philosophy of Louis van Gaal.

“But you have to do that because I am here and I am here to build up a new team. The process needs time. We know exactly what we are doing.

“We have lost in the Capital One Cup, so tonight has cost us the chance of a trophy, and that is disappointing.”

United’s 4-0 defeat followed a 2-1 home loss to Swansea in their Premier League opener and a 1-1 draw at Sunderland last weekend.

Van Gaal took over the United job in the summer and the club have spent more than 130 million pounds in the transfer window so far.

But the Dutchman, formerly the manager of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and the Netherlands, said he was not shocked by the result on Tuesday. 

“I know what can happen,” he said. “A new team is not built in one month.

“We made too many errors. I have no regrets about my selection but the changes were risky.”

Van Gaal said he was looking forward to integrating Di Maria into the side.

“I have bought Di Maria because he can play inside and wide. It’s very handy,” he said.  “When I was coach at Bayern Munich, I bought Arjen Robben and he could also play on the wings and inside. Then I always had the opportunity to change.”

Di Maria not instant fix

Manchester United’s new winger Angel Di Maria will not change the course of their troubled season straight away following his British record transfer from Real Madrid, manager Louis van Gaal said on Tuesday.

The Dutchman was speaking after United’s humiliating 4-0 loss at third-tier Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup second round had compounded their terrible start to the campaign.

“I think that he (Di Maria) can contribute and that is very important but we don’t have to expect that from tomorrow our world has changed,” van Gaal told Sky Sports after the Argentina international signed for 59.7 million pounds ($98.77 million).

“He has to adapt to the culture of England, the culture of the Premier League and the philosophy of Manchester United.

“He shall contribute very much in our way of playing. He is a creative player. I can change the system with Di Maria. He can play as a winger and he can also play in midfield,” he added.

The experienced Van Gaal has yet to fashion a win during his three competitive matches in charge of United this season.

Their thrashing by MK Dons followed a 2-1 defeat against Swansea City, United’s first opening day loss at home since 1972, and a 1-1 draw against Sunderland in the Premier League.

Odds slashed on Van Gaal leaving United

British bookmakers reacted to Manchester United’s humiliating 4-0 defeat by MK Dons in the Capital One Cup by slashing the odds on manager Louis van Gaal leaving the club.

William Hill, who had been offering 66-1 against the Dutchman becoming the next Premier League manager to go, cut those odds to 12-1 yesterday.

Corals, meanwhile, are offering 6-1 against him leaving by the end of his first season in England after United lost for the second time in three matches since he took over with the other match ending in a draw.

“The odds suggest that Manchester United will win nothing and the owners might just cut their losses and rebuild again,” said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.