PHIL NEVILLE has urged Manchester United not to hit the panic button by sacking Louis van Gaal.
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| Valencia coach Phil Neville wants Manchester United to remain patient with Louis van Gaal |
Despite the availability of Jose Mourinho, former United defender Neville thinks the club need stability rather than change - although he admits performances have to improve quickly.
Van Gaal is under intense pressure after a run of only four wins in 15 games in all competitions. United have crashed out of the Capital One Cup and the Champions League and slipped from top to fifth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Leicester.
But Neville, now a coach at Valencia where his brother Gary is boss, thinks Van Gaal should be given the time that his predecessor David Moyes was denied.
"It's not the Sir Alex Ferguson era now, that time has gone, and there needs to be a reality check," he said.
"It's the Louis van Gaal era. Constant change is not the answer. United have to make a decision. Do they turn into a club who changes manager every 12 to 18 months or do they look for stability?
"There seems to be an obsession at all clubs now, if you don't get the right results in four or five games then it's time to change the manager. That is not the answer."
Apart from poor results, Van Gaal has been criticised for United's boring style of play and lack of goals - they have managed only 14 in their last 15 games - but Neville pointed out it wasn't always a case of free-flowing football in the highly-successful Ferguson era.
"I was at United as a player for nine years and it wasn't pretty every week," he added. "There is talent in the current team. United are only a few points off the top three, it's not all doom and gloom but performances must get better.
"They need to put faith in a man who has won trophies in every major European country. United asked him to get into the Champions League, and he did, now this year is about winning a trophy.
"He has the experience, he can handle being at Old Trafford and people need to relax about constantly needing to change and sack managers."
United refuse to comment on reports that executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward discussed Van Gaal's future, and the possibility of appointing Mourinho, in a meeting at United's London HQ yesterday.
But Van Gaal will hold his weekly press conference at United's Carrington training complex this afternoon knowing that the two Christmas fixtures, at Stoke on Boxing Day and at home to Chelsea on Monday, could seal his fate.
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