Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted that the pressure on both himself and his players is growing game by game.

The Red Devils have suffered a torrid run of form in recent weeks, going seven matches without a win and losing each of their last four - their worst losing run in a single season since 1961.

There has been speculation that Van Gaal is on the brink of being sacked by the club following a 2-0 defeat at Stoke City on Boxing Day, but the Dutchman insists that he still feels as though his players, and crucially the United board, are behind him.

"The scrutiny is all right for me, I am used to that. I have received [support] all the time but we have lost today so there is a new situation. But I feel the support of my players and my board and of course the fans shall be disappointed but that is logical after four defeats," he told reporters.

"I am also part of the four matches we have lost so people are looking at me and I have to deal with that but much more important is that the players have to deal with that because they have to perform. We have lost the game in the first half because we didn't dare to play our football.

"I said we have to play football at half time and you have seen the difference, but that is not enough, you have to start in the first minute. I try to do everything but every match the pressure shall be higher and higher and we have to solve that problem."

United's next match sees them host Guus Hiddink's Chelsea at Old Trafford on Monday.