Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has taken his side to third in the table

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says the support of the fans has been crucial to the team's gradual improvement under his leadership this season.

Van Gaal replaced David Moyes as United boss in the summer and has guided his side to third place in the Premier League table despite a troubled start to his tenure.

Louis van Gaal has told Manchester United's rivals that there's much more to come from his team. Louis van Gaal has told Manchester United's rivals that there's much more to come from his team.

Moyes lost the confidence of some sections of the Old Trafford crowd towards the end of his spell in charge, with a plane carrying the message "Wrong One - Moyes Out" flown over the ground in March.

But despite early losses to Swansea and Leicester - together with an embarrassing 4-0 hammering by MK Dons in the Capital One Cup - United fans have stayed behind their new manager and have been rewarded by a run of seven wins from their last nine Premier League matches.

"It's been a good first half of the year," said Van Gaal, who last saw his team lose on November 2 against local rivals Manchester City.

Everyone said before I came that the food is bad, but the food is fantastic and the wine lists are fantastic! Louis van Gaal on life in England

"The most important thing has been the support from the fans, and the players' fighting spirit.

"We can be satisfied. We are improving every week and we can see the new year in with open eyes.

"We are going through the process, playing effectively and we will continue. Hopefully we can have a fantastic result at the end of the season."

Van Gaal said the team's injury problems were gradually easing with Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw and Rafael Da Silva all making good recoveries although still short of match fitness, while Anders Herrera and Adnan Januzaj have returned to training.

Goals from Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata gave United a 2-1 home victory over Stoke at the start of December, but Van Gaal said his team would be in better condition for Thursday's clash at the Britannia.

"We were weak in the home game at the end," he said.

"I have to look to the balance of my team but we are better now. We have to show our improvements against Stoke, and in more away games. We have to dominate more but (assistant boss) Ryan Giggs says Stoke is a difficult place to go."

The former Netherlands boss is midway through his first experience of English football's traditional Christmas schedule, and he has again said he is not in favour of the hectic programme of games.

"Everybody knows the body can't recover in 48 hours - that's proven, but we have to play," he said.

"That's the culture of England. I don't mind that but it's bad for the players and bad for the games. Look at the second half against Spurs or the second half of Southampton against Chelsea."

But Van Gaal ended his press conference on a lighter note, talking about his love of English life, food - and wine lists.

"English life is fantastic, I have met only friendly people in the streets or in the restaurants," he said.

"Everyone said before I came that the food is bad, but the food is fantastic and the wine lists are fantastic.

"My neighbours are very nice and I love a Chinese!"