Alex Ferguson urges Manchester United to be patient with Louis van Gaal

"It is worth having a couple of years on the quiet side of success because they will always come back and come back strong."

Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has sprung to the defence of under-fire Louis van Gaal and urged fans to be patient during the club's current tribulations.

Despite being only a point off the top four in sixth place and a replay away from a Wembley FA Cup semi-final, United exited the Champions League after the group stage, were knocked out of the Europa League by arch-rivals Liverpool and lost to Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup.