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Darren Fletcher has revealed the constant “mental challenge” of life under new manager Louis van Gaal.

The Dutch boss has warned the Old Trafford giants’ fans of more pain ahead as the players adapt to his new methods, and the teething problems continued in a turgid 0-0 draw with promoted Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday.

United have just two points from their opening three Premier League games under Van Gaal and are already seven points off top spot, with their top-four challenge already looking like a long slog.

Record £59.7million signing Angel Di Maria showed flashes of ­brilliance on his debut, but it was not enough to inspire a first win of the season under Van Gaal.

The former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Holland boss persisted with the much-maligned three-at-the-back system that United’s defenders are struggling to adapt to, and midfielder Fletcher said it was an ongoing process of learning after every game.

“We have to master it and we have to play better and win individual battles,” he said. “There are other things that come in to it apart from the system. I’m confident we’ll put things right if we keep believing in ourselves and the manager.

Burnley 0-0 Manchester United in pictures:

“He has been straight with the players and we appreciate that. It’s mentally challenging but that’s always been the case. It’s mentally challenging playing for a club of this size. The players are well used to that.

“As players learning a new system and developing new ideas, you know it’s going to make you a better player in the long term.

“It’s about training, videos, constant learning and looking over every match. We’re putting a lot of effort in and there has been improvement. You need to think about it more. We get that, but we have always had that. Other managers have spoken about it, too, maybe just not in public.

“Sir Alex Ferguson used to tell us to use our brain, and would use Paul Scholes as an example. So it’s not something we’re averse to. It’s something that isn’t new to us, the new manager has just spoken of it publicly to make us aware of it.”

With 11 players injured, new signing Marcos Rojo yet to make his debut and the capture Daley Blind not yet complete, the time to judge United is weeks and months down the line, when Van Gaal has close to his full personnel available.

That said, the United manager’s famed stubborn streak and conviction-led coaching style should not see him persevere with the current formation if it continues to fail - as it has done so far this season.

Van Gaal has spoken of his ability to change the system if he wants, but the 63-year-old, for the time being at least, remains convinced of its merits.

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“The system is also dependent on the two strikers and the type of midfielders we have, “ said Van Gaal. “That is because they are playing midfielders, not fighting midfielders or hard-working midfielders.

“We have more technical and tactical midfielders in our midfield, so when you have that you also need support, and that you can give with three defenders.

“I think you can only can judge after one season, not in weeks or months or something like that.

“I think we have to rebuild a new team and I have already said that this needs time. When I have to repeat myself every week when we are losing points, you are tired of my answer but also the fans shall be tired.”

After the international break, United return to Old Trafford, after three games on the road, to host Queen’s Park Rangers. Only maximum points will suffice.

A supposedly easy start to the campaign, with games against Swansea, Sunderland and Burnley, has proved anything but, and the pressure will build on Van Gaal if he cannot remedy this wretched start.

Before the season he bought himself time by pointing out he has endured slow starts at all of his previous clubs, before his philosophy begins to take effect.

But, as he has found out already, the Premier League is unremitting in its competitiveness and slow starts are not as easily recoverable as in other European leagues.

Against that backdrop, it could tun out to be a long and torturous season ahead for Van Gaal and United.

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