Louis van Gaal has implored the Manchester United faithful to take out their anger on him as the manager, and not the players.
United supporters have expressed their unhappiness at the current staid tactics by chanting that they want the team to attack.
Boos were also heard echoing around Old Trafford, on Tuesday, when Anthony Martial was substituted for Marouane Fellaini against CSKA Moscow.
“I think the supporters have to support the players, otherwise they make it very difficult for the players to play at Old Trafford,” Van Gaal opined.
“Until now they were fantastic so I cannot complain about the fans. I can only advise the fans to criticise the manager and not the players. It’s very difficult to play for Manchester United with a lot of pressure and when you can taste that in Old Trafford because of all the yelling then it’s not good for all my players.
“It’s better to whistle at the manager. I can cope with it because I have had a lot of experience in it in my life as a manager.”
Van Gaal reiterated that the supporters have every right to express the chagrin – as long as it’s at him.
“Criticism [from] the fans is never unfair because it is a feeling of the fans and you cannot criticise the feeling of the fans.
“I think we have to play for the fans. The fans have to understand also the game and the resistance of our opponent and they also have to analyse.”
What the Dutchman does not seem to realise is that a fair clutch of the United fans were booing him, not the players.
