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UNITED executive vice chairman Ed Woodward didn't stick around long in the Reds dressing room following the damaging defeat against Norwich but manager Louis van Gaal still feels he has the full backing of the players and powers that be at Old Trafford.

The pressure on United's American owners the Glazers and hirer and firer Woodward to give the Dutchman the bullet after 18 months in charge has intensified after six winless matches, a Champions League KO and dropping out of the top four.

But asked after the Norwich defeat on Saturday if he felt he had the support from the hierarchy Van Gaal said, “Yes. Ed was very fast out of the dressing room. But I feel that support yes.

“The most important support is from the players, it is always like that because the players have to do it on the pitch and the chemistry between the players and the managers and his staff is very important.

“But of course the belief of the fans in the manager is also very important. Last year we had 13 points in the Premier League (at the start of his reign) and then they believe in me, they think he shall bring us to the top.

In pictures: United v Norwich

“And now we are in a bad period, we have lost three matches in a row and then their belief has been tested. It's tested now and it shall decrease and yeah, its also important how the fans are thinking, of course. But the most important thing is Manchester united, they have to play in the top of the league and that should be the most important thing.”

(Image: Nigel French/PA Wire)

Van Gaal has always said that if he felt he'd lost the dressing room then he'd quit but questioned whether he thought that support from the Reds squad was still there he said, “Yes – I have seen the reaction of the players to me (afterwards).”

If Van Gaal survives he has to take his squad to Stoke City on Boxing Day in a bid to arrest the slide.

“I think always a good result helps the confidence to increase and that is what we need now so we can show professional attitude and a fantastic spirit in the training session, but you need that result and of course now much more than after the first defeat,” he says.

“I think every player has a contribution in how we play and in many matches you have a good quality but also in matches you don't have a good quality or one player is out of shape or something like that but that’s football.

“You cannot say I am always in the right shape or I am always one of the best players in my team. But they have to act like a team and they are doing that. Also against Norwich they have worked as a team but it was not good enough.”