Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United have conceded “too many goals” and has told the team to start defending as a unit, beginning with the strikers. United have let in nine goals in six matches, with only Crystal Palace conceding more of those sides in the top half of the table, as Everton visit Old Trafford on Sunday.

“I want my defensive organisation to be better but the defence begins in the striker’s position,” he said. “It’s teamwork, so when we concede a goal it’s not only because of an individual error from the defence. It starts somewhere else and that is what we have to analyse and improve.

“All the teams are mostly scoring goals out of counterattacks against us and free-kicks and corners – not that they make their goals like we do out of building up, first, second, third and fourth phase.

“That’s the difference and, when you want to be a big team, you have to perform like that. You must dominate the game. When they are organised and also when the team is organised in their own half, then you need these kinds of players [who can carry this out]. But you also need to think about the balance of the team and the defensive organisation at the same time. That is what I’m working on.”

Van Gaal rejected the suggestion that having attack-minded footballers such as Ángel di María makes the defensive side difficult. “You want to make it personal,” he said. “We are playing like a team and then you pick up on Di María, it’s a pity.

“We have a lot of creative attacking players in our selection and I like that but I also like to think that you have the discipline to come back in a certain shape because now we have conceded too many goals. The media are writing it’s because of the weak defence, but no. I have explained I want to improve your knowledge of football also.”

With Juan Mata favourite to replace the suspended Wayne Rooney in the No10 role, Van Gaal would not explain what Adnan Januzaj has to do to make the starting XI. “You make it again personal. I cannot answer that, it’s personal.”

The Dutchman offered a similar response regarding who would be captain at Old Trafford on Sunday. “You shall see,” he said. “I have told the players but you shall see on Sunday.”